Nation gains lead in offshore wind power equipment manufacturing

China has become the world's largest offshore wind power manufacturing base, according to an industry report.

According to a recent report on the global offshore wind supply chain released during an international wind power technology innovation conference in Shantou, Guangdong province, China accounts for 60 percent of the global capacity in terms of complete offshore wind power machines.

Also, the country has captured over 80 percent of the global market share in terms of core components of offshore wind power such as gearboxes, converters and core raw materials, the report said.

The conference brought together nearly 600 government officials, international organization representatives, diplomats, experts, academicians and corporate executives from more than 20 countries and regions worldwide, in discussions of the latest global trends in the offshore wind power industry to promote international exchange and cooperation in the field.

"The development of offshore wind power is not only an important part of constructing a maritime power, but also a crucial practice in promoting energy transformation and building a new energy system," said Chen Yongsheng, a division director of the new energy and renewable energy department at the National Energy Administration.

China's offshore wind power has gone through a path of innovation, development and growth in recent years, Chen said.

Citing China's construction of its first offshore wind power project in Shanghai in 2010, Chen said the country's offshore wind power has developed a global industrial competitive advantage in the past decade.

"China's installed capacity is continuously expanding and the industrial chain is continuously improving, with technology constantly developing and costs consistently decreasing," said Chen.

As of October this year, China's offshore wind power installed capacity had reached 39.51 million kilowatts, accounting for half of global installed capacity, ranking first globally for three consecutive years, Chen said.

"To vigorously develop the offshore wind power industry in the future, it is necessary to further expand into deep waters and far-sea areas," said Chen.

There is also a need to further reduce costs through scale development and integrated offshore wind power development to enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency, Chen added.

The two-day conference was also used to announce the beginning of operations of an offshore wind power equipment manufacturing industrial park in Shantou, a city that has rich offshore resources in eastern Guangdong.

Focusing on integration of research and development and design, production manufacturing and testing certification, the industrial park boasts a complete industry chain — from technological innovation, and design and development to production and delivery.

"The industrial ecosystem in Shantou continues to improve, nurturing tremendous development potential for the offshore wind power industry in the city," said Wen Zhanbin, Party chief of Shantou.

The city has developed world-class technologies in large-scale long-distance transmission of wind power, innovative research and development of offshore wind turbine units and convenient logistics with harbors, Wen said.

An international offshore wind power training center has completed its overall design and is currently under construction in Shantou, Wen said.

"The center fills the gap in offshore wind power training in Guangdong and, once completed, will become a national and even global training base for offshore wind power talent," Wen added.