The Huadian Yuhuan No 1 offshore wind farm in Taizhou, Zhejiang province commenced grid-connected power generation on June 3. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

The Huadian Yuhuan No 1 offshore wind farm (south zone) in Taizhou, Zhejiang province commenced grid-connected power generation on June 3, marking the completion and successful operation of the entire project.

Divided into north and south zones and situated to the northwest of Pishan Island in Yuhuan, the offshore wind farm is an important part of the wind farm cluster along Zhejiang's east coast. The north zone boasts 22 units of 7-megawatt turbines that have been operational since December 2021.

After the 10 units of 7.5-megawatt turbines in the south zone are connected to the grid, the annual power generation of the wind farm is expected to reach 670 million kilowatt-hours, sufficient for about 287,000 households annually. It can save 219,000 metric tons of standard coal, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 574,000 tons.

"Zhejiang is estimated to see a gap of around 10 million kilowatts in peak load this summer. This project can contribute to filling this gap," said Le Xinrong, head of the Ganjiang Wind Farm of the Zhejiang Yuhuan Huadian Wind Power Generation Co.

The pioneering project is the first in China to use a 66-kilovolt collection line, eliminating the need for offshore booster stations and directly connecting sea cables to onshore booster stations. This technological advancement significantly improves the economic viability, safety, and reliability of offshore wind farms.