The tapered tubular steel mast of the first 300-MW tower of an offshore wind farm was erected Aug 19 south of Jinwan District's Sanzao Island and east of Gaolan Port.

The wind farm is the first of its kind invested by Guangdong Energy Group in Zhuhai. Once operational, it will generate 7.29 TW of electricity annually, saving 229,600 tons of standard coal compared with coal-fired power plants. Although it will cost 5.33 billion yuan ($754.5 million), it will support industries in the area and create 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in output value.

Wind power is seen as a significant part of the energy and electric power structure. Offshore wind power, a clean energy without pollutant emission, has exceptional advantages over onshore wind generators. As the wind at sea is more stable, it has a higher wind turbine utilization rate and single-unit installed capacity, while occupying no land and is said to have no impact on residents.

Steel mast driven into the sea [Photo by Wang Kai to Zhuhai Daily]