Offshore Wind: Top 10 Projects and Companies in China in 2025 and 2024

China’s Offshore Wind Revolution: Charting the Next Wave of Clean Energy

Introduction

Imagine standing on the coast of the Yellow Sea, the wind so powerful it feels like a physical force. For centuries, this raw power was a challenge for mariners. Today, China is harnessing it on an unprecedented scale, transforming its coastline into the world’s largest clean energy engine. This isn’t just about building windmills; it’s a story of national ambition, technological mastery, and a strategic pivot that is reshaping the global energy landscape. While the world watches, China is quietly constructing a future powered by the relentless force of the ocean wind, building gigawatt-scale projects that dwarf those in the rest of the world combined. The sheer velocity and scale of these installations signal a profound shift, offering a glimpse into a future where clean energy is not just an alternative, but the backbone of an economic superpower.

Recent Offshore Wind Installations Powering China’s Ambitions

The following installations, planned or under construction for the 2024-2025 period, exemplify the immense scale and strategic direction of China’s offshore wind sector. These projects are not merely additions to the grid; they are foundational pillars of regional development and decarbonization strategies.

1. Guangdong Pearl River Delta Offshore Wind Farm Phase IV

Company: China Three Gorges New Energy (CTGNE)
Installation Capacity: 1.2 GW
Applications: Grid-scale power for the Greater Bay Area
Source: CTGNE Announces Massive 1.2 GW Offshore Project for Greater Bay Area

2. Jiangsu Rudong H5 Wind Farm

Company: State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC)
Installation Capacity: 800 MW
Applications: Supplying clean energy to industrial hubs
Source: SPIC Breaks Ground on 800 MW Wind Farm to Power Jiangsu Industry

3. Hainan Deep-Sea Floating Wind Pilot

Company: China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)
Installation Capacity: 150 MW
Applications: Demonstration of deep-water floating turbine technology
Source: CNOOC Launches Pioneering Deep-Water Floating Wind Farm off Hainan

4. Fujian Strait Offshore Wind Project

Company: Fujian Energy Group & Mingyang Smart Energy
Installation Capacity: 900 MW
Applications: Powering coastal cities and leveraging high-wind corridors
Source: Fujian Taps High-Wind Strait for 900 MW Offshore Development

5. Shandong Peninsula South 3 Wind Farm

Company: Huaneng Renewables
Installation Capacity: 650 MW
Applications: Integrating with local green hydrogen production facilities
Source: Huaneng to Integrate 650 MW Offshore Wind with Green Hydrogen Hub

Table: Key Chinese Offshore Wind Installations (2024-2025)

From Power Grids to Green Hydrogen: A New Energy Ecosystem

Industry Adoption

These installations reveal that China’s adoption of offshore wind has evolved far beyond simple grid supplementation. The diversity of applications signifies a strategic integration of clean energy into the very fabric of its economy. For instance, the SPIC project in Jiangsu is explicitly designed to decarbonize the province’s dense industrial hubs, directly linking renewable generation with manufacturing output. This demonstrates a sophisticated approach to industrial policy, where energy transition and economic competitiveness are pursued simultaneously. Similarly, CTGNE’s 1.2 GW project in Guangdong is not just a power plant; it is a critical infrastructure asset ensuring energy security for the Pearl River Delta, one of the world’s most dynamic economic zones.

The most forward-thinking application is Huaneng’s Shandong project, which pairs a 650 MW wind farm with green hydrogen production. This move signals the beginning of sector coupling on a massive scale. China is not just building power sources; it is building integrated energy ecosystems where offshore wind can produce a versatile, storable, and transportable clean fuel. This diversification suggests that wider adoption is being driven by strategic needs—industrial decarbonization, energy security for megacities, and leadership in future fuel technologies—making offshore wind a cornerstone technology rather than a peripheral one.

Coastal Dominance: Mapping China’s Wind Powerhouses

Geography

The geographic distribution of these projects underscores a deliberate and calculated strategy. The developments are concentrated along the coastlines of China’s most economically vital and energy-hungry provinces: Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shandong. This is not a coincidence. Locating these massive power sources adjacent to the load centers minimizes transmission losses and directly supports the regions that are the engines of China’s economy. This alignment of geographic advantage (strong, consistent winds) with economic necessity (high energy demand) is a hallmark of China’s state-led development model.

Furthermore, the geographic choices reveal a nuanced understanding of resources. The Fujian Strait project, a collaboration involving turbine manufacturer Mingyang Smart Energy, is sited to exploit one of the world’s premier wind corridors, maximizing generation efficiency. Meanwhile, CNOOC’s project off Hainan pushes into a new frontier. By moving into deeper waters, China is signaling its intent to unlock vast, untapped wind resources far from shore, a necessary step as prime shallow-water sites become developed. This geographic expansion from established coastal strongholds to deep-water territories indicates that mainstream adoption is not only happening but is already entering its next, more ambitious phase.

From Shallow Seas to Deep Waters: The Technology Trajectory

Tech Maturity

The portfolio of installations provides a clear snapshot of a dual-pronged technology strategy. On one hand, the gigawatt-scale projects in Guangdong and Fujian, utilizing bottom-fixed turbines, represent the pinnacle of commercially mature technology being deployed at an industrial scale. Projects of 800 MW to 1.2 GW are no longer experimental; they are standard, bankable infrastructure investments, supported by a robust domestic supply chain exemplified by the involvement of giants like Mingyang. This demonstrates that China has mastered and is now aggressively scaling proven offshore wind technology for immediate impact on its carbon goals.

On the other hand, the CNOOC project in Hainan represents the strategic cultivation of next-generation technology. At 150 MW, the “Deep-Sea Floating Wind Pilot” is one of the world’s largest of its kind, moving floating wind technology from the realm of small-scale demonstration to a pre-commercial validation phase. This investment by a national oil company like CNOOC is particularly telling, showing that the key players in the traditional energy sector are now leading the charge into advanced renewables. This reveals a sophisticated national strategy: squeeze every megawatt from mature technologies while simultaneously funding the next wave of innovation to ensure long-term global leadership.

The Unstoppable Gale: China’s Offshore Wind Future

Forward-Looking Insights and Summary

The recent wave of offshore wind installations in China is more than just a list of projects; it is a clear statement of intent. The data signals a future defined by three core trends. First, the scale of development will continue to accelerate, with multi-gigawatt projects becoming the norm as China leverages its immense industrial capacity to meet its 2060 carbon neutrality target. Second, the strategic integration with other sectors will deepen. The link to green hydrogen production in Shandong is a pioneering step that will likely be replicated, creating complex coastal “energy parks” that produce electricity, clean fuels, and drive industrial decarbonization.

Finally, the technological frontier will be pushed relentlessly. As projects like the Hainan pilot prove the viability of floating platforms in deeper waters, a vast new expanse of the South China Sea will open up for development. This signals that China is not content to simply lead in deployment numbers; it is determined to lead in the innovation that will define the next chapter of clean energy. The unstoppable momentum of its offshore wind sector is a powerful force, positioning China not just as a participant in the global energy transition, but as its primary architect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the scale of China’s recent offshore wind projects so significant?
The scale is significant because of the immense size of individual projects, which are described as “gigawatt-scale” and collectively dwarf installations in the rest of the world combined. For instance, the Guangdong Pearl River Delta project alone has an installation capacity of 1.2 GW. This massive scale positions China as a dominant force, transforming its coastline into the world’s largest clean energy engine.

Are these new wind farms only being used to generate electricity for the power grid?
No, the applications are much more diverse and strategically integrated into the economy. While some projects, like the one in Guangdong, provide grid-scale power for megacities, others have more specific goals. The SPIC project in Jiangsu directly powers industrial hubs to aid decarbonization, and the Huaneng project in Shandong is being integrated with green hydrogen production facilities, signaling a move towards creating a new energy ecosystem.

Why are these major offshore wind projects concentrated in specific coastal areas like Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Fujian?
The locations are strategically chosen to align geographic advantages with economic needs. These provinces are China’s most economically vital and energy-hungry regions. Placing massive power sources next to these “load centers” minimizes transmission losses and supports the local economy. Furthermore, specific sites like the Fujian Strait are selected to leverage premier “high-wind corridors” for maximum energy generation efficiency.

What does the article reveal about China’s technology strategy for offshore wind?
The article shows a dual-pronged strategy. China is deploying mature, bottom-fixed turbine technology at an industrial scale for immediate impact, as seen in the massive 800 MW to 1.2 GW projects. Simultaneously, it is investing in next-generation technology with projects like the Hainan Deep-Sea Floating Wind Pilot (150 MW), which moves floating wind from small-scale demonstration to a pre-commercial phase, ensuring leadership in future deep-water development.

Based on the article, what are the key future trends for China’s offshore wind sector?
The article points to three core future trends. First, the scale of development will continue to accelerate, with multi-gigawatt projects becoming the norm. Second, strategic integration with other industries will deepen, particularly with green hydrogen production to create coastal “energy parks.” Finally, China will continue to push the technological frontier, moving into deeper waters with floating platforms to unlock vast new areas for development.