The most pressing issue in the offshore wind power sector is whether China’s target of building 5 million kilowatts of offshore wind capacity during the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan†is truly achievable. While China has an estimated potential of up to 510 million kilowatts of offshore wind resources, the current grid-connected capacity remains below 400,000 kilowatts—far behind the annual onshore wind power growth of 15 million kilowatts. To meet its goal, more than 4.6 million kilowatts of offshore wind power must be commissioned within the next two and a half years. Experts argue that even with initial progress being made, this target still seems highly unlikely.
Currently, 17 offshore wind projects across the country have received preliminary approval from the National Energy Administration, with a total installed capacity of 3.95 million kilowatts. These projects are primarily located in Hebei, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Fujian, Guangdong, and Zhejiang. Additionally, 28 more projects are seeking approval for preliminary work, with a combined capacity of 8.5 million kilowatts. This growing pipeline shows the government's commitment to expanding offshore wind energy.
In response to this ambitious vision, wind power developers are actively preparing for offshore development. For example, after completing the first phase of the Shanghai Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm, the second phase is expected to begin construction later this year, with a total capacity of 119,600 kilowatts.
Despite these efforts, offshore wind farms face significant challenges, including high costs and environmental complexities. Offshore wind power is generally more expensive than onshore due to the need for specialized equipment, longer transmission lines, and harsher operating conditions. The industry is divided into intertidal and deep-sea zones, each presenting unique technical and logistical hurdles.
Industrial policies play a key role in supporting offshore wind development, but other factors also drive growth. China’s abundant offshore wind resources, proximity to major load centers, and strong grid absorption capacity all contribute to the long-term viability of offshore wind power. Moreover, ongoing cost reductions in offshore generation further support its expansion.
However, achieving China’s offshore wind dream requires overcoming multiple bottlenecks, including technological limitations, grid infrastructure constraints, and unclear pricing policies. Currently, the basic groundwork for large-scale offshore wind development is not fully in place. Surveys of offshore wind resources and seabed conditions remain insufficient, which delays project planning and execution.
Technological development is another critical challenge. Offshore wind turbines must withstand extreme weather, corrosion, and complex marine environments, requiring advanced engineering solutions. China still lacks mature technology for large-scale offshore wind projects, and many components are imported, increasing costs and reducing control over the supply chain.
In addition, the uncertainty surrounding offshore wind power pricing policies hinders investment. Offshore projects require higher grid connection prices due to greater capital and operational costs. With no clear tariff mechanism in place, developers face financial risks, making it difficult to secure long-term funding.
Offshore wind power costs are roughly twice that of onshore wind. Key expenses include wind turbines, installation, maintenance, foundation structures, and power transmission systems. While wind turbines account for about 68% of onshore costs, they make up only 33% of offshore costs, with foundations and maintenance taking up a larger share. Maintenance costs alone can reach 23%, significantly raising the overall cost. On average, onshore wind projects cost around 8,000 yuan per kilowatt, while offshore projects cost approximately 20,000 yuan per kilowatt. This gap highlights the economic challenges facing the offshore wind industry in China.
Elevator Door Controller,Elevator Door Machine,Elevator Operator Box,Elevator Motor Drive
Suzhou FUJI Precision Elevator Co.,Ltd , https://www.profuji.com