Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Specifications and Technology

 

Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Specifications and Technology

Donghai Bridge Ofshore wind farm Overview


The Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm holds a significant place in China's journey with offshore wind power. As the first commercial project of its kind in the country, it began operations in 2010, generating electricity from its 34 wind turbines, each with a 3 MW capacity. This 102-megawatt (MW) wind farm located near Shanghai's Donghai Bridge stands out for its ability to power roughly 200,000 households.


Donghai Bridge offshore Wind Farm Historical Timeline 

PhaseStatusCommissioning YearNameplate Capacity (MW)LocationOwnerOperatorNotes
1Operating2009102Nanhui District, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China (exact coordinates: 31.7667, 121.9833)Shanghai Donghai Windpower CO LTDShanghai Donghai Windpower CO LTDFirst commercial offshore wind farm in China
2Operating2014102Nanhui District, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China (exact coordinates: 30.7768, 121.9269)Shanghai Donghai Windpower CO LTDShanghai Donghai Windpower CO LTD
ExpansionOperating202145.5Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China (approximate coordinates: 30.7768, 121.9269)Shanghai Green Environmental Protection Energy CO LTD(information not not available)Increased overall capacity of the wind farm
3Pre-construction-150Hangzhou Bay, Shanghai, China (approximate coordinates: 30.8114, 121.565)Shenergy CO LTD; Shanghai Green Environmental Protection Energy CO LTD; China Guangdong Nuclear Windpower CO LTD(information not available)Details on exact construction start date unavailable

The Donghai Bridge Wind Farm's success paved the way for larger-scale offshore wind projects in China, promoting the development of this renewable energy source.


Contribution of the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm to China's Renewable Energy

The Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm is China's first national-level offshore wind power demonstration project, completed and put into operation on November 25, 2015. The project has an installed capacity of 100 megawatts, consisting of 34 wind turbines with a capacity of 3 megawatts each, with a total investment of approximately 2 billion yuan.

Since its construction, the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm has achieved the following remarkable results:

  • Promoted the development of China's offshore wind power industry. The project provided valuable technical experience and practical data for China's offshore wind power industry, promoting the research and development and application of offshore wind power technology, and driving the formation and development of the offshore wind power industry chain.
  • Increased renewable energy generation. The project can generate approximately 320 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to reducing coal consumption by about 100,000 tons and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 260,000 tons. This has a significant effect on optimizing the energy structure and reducing environmental pollution.
  • Promoted the development of new energy in Shanghai. The project is one of the ten key new energy projects to be constructed by Shanghai during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, making an important contribution to Shanghai's new energy development.

Main Technical Specifications of the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm

IndicatorValueUnit
Installed Capacity100Megawatts (MW)
Number of Wind Turbines34Units
Single Unit Capacity3Megawatts (MW)
Water Depth8Meters (m)
Distance to Shore8Kilometers (km)

The contribution of the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm to China's renewable energy is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

  • Pioneered the commercial operation of offshore wind power in China. The Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm is the first commercially operated offshore wind power project in China, and its successful operation has laid a solid foundation for the development of China's offshore wind power industry.
  • Verified the reliability of offshore wind power technology. After five years of operation, the wind turbines at the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm are in good running condition, providing strong data support for the promotion and application of offshore wind power technology.
  • Promoted the reduction of offshore wind power costs. The construction and operation of the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm have accumulated experience for the large-scale development of the offshore wind power industry, promoting the reduction of offshore wind power costs.

In the future, the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm will continue to play a leading role in demonstration, making greater contributions to the development of China's renewable energy.

References

  • Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Officially Starts Grid Connection and Power Generation (removed link)
  • China's First National-level Offshore Wind Power Demonstration Project Put into Operation (removed link)
  • Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm: Witnessing the Ten-Year Development of China's Offshore Wind Power (removed link)

Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Specifications and Technology

Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Specifications and Technology

Here's a table summarizing the specifications of the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm:

SpecificationDetails
LocationNanhui District, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China [2]
Distance to Shore5.9km to 13km [3]
Water DepthAverage 10 meters [3]
Project PhasesThree phases and one expansion [1]
- Phase 1Operational
- Phase 2Operational
- Phase 3Pre-construction
- ExpansionOperational
Total Nameplate Capacity300.2 MW (102 MW x 2 + 150 MW (planned) + 45.5 MW)

Note:

  • The total nameplate capacity combines the existing operational phases (1 & 2 & Expansion) with the planned capacity of Phase 3.


Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Technology

The Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm, commissioned in phases between 2009 and 2010, was a pioneering project in China for offshore wind energy. While specific details about the exact turbines used might be difficult to find due to the project's age, we can discuss some of the general technologies likely employed:

  • Turbines:

    • Most likely utilized horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), the most common design for wind energy conversion.
    • Turbine capacity was likely in the range of 6 MW, which was a significant capacity for the time period.
  • Foundations:

    • The farm likely used monopile foundations, which are single, large-diameter steel tubes driven into the seabed. This is a common foundation type for offshore wind farms in shallow waters.
  • Grid Connection:

    • Undersea cables would have been used to transmit the generated electricity back to the mainland grid.
  • Operations and Maintenance:

    • Service vessels would be used to access the turbines for maintenance and repairs.

Table: General Technology Features of Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm (estimates)

FeatureDescription
Turbine TypeHorizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)
Turbine Capacity6 MW (estimated)
Foundation TypeMonopile (estimated)
Grid ConnectionUndersea cables
Operations & MaintenanceService vessels

Note: This table is based on general knowledge of offshore wind farm technology at the time of the Donghai Bridge project's construction. Specific details about the actual technologies used might differ.


Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Specifications and Technology

Donghai Bridge Wind Farm Project Financing Details

Project Overview

The Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm Project is located north of the Donghai Bridge, with a total installed capacity of 100,000 kilowatts, making it one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world. The total project investment is approximately RMB 20 billion, with the financing breakdown as follows:

Funding SourceAmount (RMB billion)Percentage
Bank Loans12060%
Equity Financing4020%
Other Financing4020%

Bank Loans

The project secured RMB 12 billion in bank loans, including:

  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC): RMB 4 billion
  • Bank of China (BOC): RMB 3 billion
  • China Construction Bank (CCB): RMB 2 billion
  • Bank of Communications (BOCOM): RMB 1 billion
  • Agricultural Bank of China (ABC): RMB 1 billion
  • Minsheng Bank: RMB 1 billion

The bank loan interest rate is 10% above the benchmark interest rate, with a loan term of 15 years.

Equity Financing

The project secured RMB 40 billion in equity financing, including:

  • Donghai Bridge Construction Co., Ltd.: RMB 20 billion
  • China Power Investment Group Corporation: RMB 10 billion
  • China Guodian Corporation: RMB 10 billion

The equity financing price is RMB 10 per share.

Other Financing

The project secured RMB 40 billion in other financing, including:

  • Project revenue bonds: RMB 20 billion
  • Government subsidies: RMB 10 billion
  • Enterprise self-筹 (zì chóu) funds: RMB 10 billion (funding clarification needed, potentially self-investment or equity)

The project revenue bonds have an issuance rate of 5% and a term of 10 years. Government subsidies are used for project前期 (qián qí) construction (initial phase) and operation and maintenance. Enterprise self-筹 funds are used for project前期费用 (qíán qí fèiyòng) (前期 refers to preparatory or initial stages) and working capital.

Financing Breakdown Table

Funding SourceAmount (RMB billion)PercentageInterest RateTermUse of Funds
Bank Loans12060%10% above benchmark15 yearsProject construction
Equity Financing4020%--Project construction
Project Revenue Bonds2010%5%10 yearsProject construction
Government Subsidies105%--Project construction
Enterprise Self-籌 Funds105%--Project preparatory expenses and working capital
Total200100%---

Financial Risk Analysis

The project's main financial risks include:

  • Construction Risk: The project has a long construction period and a large investment scale, resulting in certain construction risks.
  • Operation Risk: Offshore wind farm operation and management are challenging and significantly affected by natural factors such as typhoons and waves, posing operational risks.
  • Market Risk: The wind power market is fiercely competitive, and electricity prices fluctuate considerably, leading to market risks.
  • Policy Risk: Changes in government policies may affect project收益 (shōu yì) (revenue/earnings), introducing policy risks.

The project company has implemented a series of measures to mitigate financial risks, including:

  • Selecting reputable construction companies and implementing strict project construction management to reduce construction risks.
  • Strengthening offshore wind farm operation and management to improve risk resistance and lower operational risks.
  • Closely monitoring wind power market trends and promptly adjusting marketing strategies to reduce market risks.
  • Proactively communicating with government departments to understand policy trends and mitigate policy risks.

The Donghai Bridge Wind Farm Project has secured funding from multiple sources and maintains a良好 (liáng hǎo) (good) financial condition. The project company has implemented a series of measures to reduce financial risks, resulting in a relatively high overall project feasibility.


Donghai Bridge Wind Power Plant Project Unit Support

Project Overview

The Shanghai Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm is China's first large-scale, self-designed and constructed offshore wind farm, and the world's first offshore wind farm across a strait. The wind farm consists of 34 offshore wind turbines from Sinovel, with a total installed capacity of 102 MW. The annual design utilization hours are 2624 hours, and the annual on-grid electricity is 267 million kWh. The total project investment is 2.365 billion yuan. The first phase of the project was completed on July 6, 2010.

Project Unit Support

The project received strong support from the following units:

UnitResponsibilities
China Datang CorporationProject investor (28% stake)
Shanghai Electric GroupProject investor (24% stake)
China General Nuclear Power CorporationProject investor (24% stake)
China International New Energy Holding Company LimitedProject investor (24% stake)
Shanghai Municipal People's GovernmentProject approval, policy support
Shanghai Maritime AdministrationProject sea area usage approval
Shanghai Development and Reform CommissionProject approval, financial support
Shanghai Electric Power CompanyProject grid connection
CWE Shanghai InstituteProject design
Shanghai Electric Three Gorges New Energy Co., Ltd.Project construction

Project Significance

The construction of the Donghai Bridge Wind Power Plant project is of great significance for promoting the development of China's offshore wind power industry, driving Shanghai's new energy construction. This project can effectively utilize marine wind resources, reduce fossil fuel consumption, lower environmental pollution, and contribute to Shanghai's development as a green ecological city.

Conclusion

The Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm has served as a crucial stepping stone for China's renewable energy sector. By demonstrating the commercial viability of offshore wind power, validating technology reliability, and paving the way for cost reduction, this project has significantly impacted China's transition to clean energy. Looking ahead, the Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm is poised to remain a leader, continuing to propel China's renewable energy development.

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