Deep in the waters off China, 70 kilometers from the coast, there is a giant that challenges the conventions of wind energy. We told you about it last July of this mastodon 219 meters high and equipped with two rotating heads: the two-faced turbine OceanX is now fully operational, and represents a significant leap forward in the evolution of marine renewable energy. It’s as if nature itself suggested the design: two rotors dancing in opposite directions, maximizing every gust of wind.
The Dance of the Twin Giants
The story of OceanX is that of two heads that think better than one. The Chinese company Mingyang Smart Energy has created something that is somewhat reminiscent of the Hydra of ancient mythology, but instead of breathing fire, this sea creature generates clean energy. The double-sided structure features a V-shape, with each tower supporting a turbine MySE8.3-180.
The real genius of this design lies in the details. The blades of the two rotors spin in opposite directions, as if in a perfectly orchestrated choreography. This opposing movement is not only a fascinating spectacle to watch, but increases energy generation efficiency by 4,29%The dimensions are impressive: while each individual tower reaches 219 metres in height, the entire structure extends for a good 369 meters. To give you an idea, it's like having the Eiffel Tower lying on the sea.
When form follows efficiency
The secret of this double-sided turbine lies in its elongated elliptical shape. It is not just an aesthetic choice, but a precise engineering strategy: the towers are designed to capture the wind from any direction it arrives, thanks to their particular cross-section. This feature allows the platform to automatically orient itself in the optimal direction, like a giant marine weather vane. The structure uses the wind pressure to rotate more quickly towards the best direction, thus maximizing the amount of energy it can generate.
The system is completely autonomous and can start using its own energy, a feature that makes it particularly resilient in difficult conditions.
Typhoon-proof two-faced engineering
The biggest challenge for a structure of this size is to withstand the elements. The platform has been equipped with a “double hump” cable system that ensures stability and safety even in the most extreme conditions. The floating foundations are made of ultra-high-performance concrete, while an adaptive single-point mooring system allows the structure to withstand even the most violent typhoons. It is as if the engineers had created a marine juggler capable of maintaining balance even in a storm.
The double-sided turbine is already operational at the offshore wind farm in Yangjiang Qingzhou IV, where it is demonstrating all its potential. It is the result of the evolution of a prototype developed by Aerodyn Engineering and tested in Germany, now brought to full operational scale. With a combined capacity of 16,6 MW, OceanX’s double-sided turbine proves that sometimes, to truly innovate, you have to dare to think outside the box.
Or in this case, thinking with two heads instead of one.
