Along China’s storm-prone southern shores, a new generation of offshore wind farms is redefining resilience in renewable energy. In Guangdong province, massive turbines built across the South China Sea are specially engineered to withstand the powerful typhoons that regularly batter the region. Designed to resist sustained winds of nearly 200 km/h and gusts approaching 290 km/h, these “typhoon-proof” turbines are central to China’s plan to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060. Their robust design—featuring reinforced blades and advanced anchoring systems—ensures that clean energy production continues even during some of the world’s most extreme weather conditions.
Recent storms have put these innovations to the test. The OceanX floating wind platform off Yangjiang endured Typhoon Yagi’s violent 230 km/h winds without damage, while 47 Goldwind turbines in nearby Xuwen county kept operating, generating more than 2 GWh of electricity during the storm. Although a few older turbines failed under similar conditions, the new models have proven their reliability and resilience. Together, they represent a major leap forward in typhoon-adapted renewable technology—offering a blueprint for other coastal nations seeking to secure their clean energy future against the growing impacts of climate change. More