Onshore Wind in China: 79.8 GW Installed, Sany’s 15 MW Turbine, and Goldwind’s Market Lead (2024 to 2025)

China’s manufacturing scale and rapid technological iteration have fundamentally altered the global onshore wind market. In 2024, Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) leveraged immense domestic demand to capture the top three global supplier rankings for the first time, a decisive shift from prior years. This market capture is driven by an aggressive push toward larger and more powerful turbines, with companies like Sany Renewable Energy and Windey deploying 15 MW and 10 MW onshore models, respectively. These developments, backed by staggering installation volumes, have created a competitive barrier built on economies of scale that Western manufacturers find increasingly difficult to surmount.

Onshore Wind Adoption, Goldwind’s Global Lead, and 70% of New Installations

The primary dynamic in the onshore wind sector is the consolidation of global manufacturing leadership within a small group of Chinese OEMs, driven by a protected and massive domestic build-out. This internal market has served as an incubator, allowing companies to achieve scale and accelerate technological development at a rate unmatched by international competitors. The result in 2024 was a historic reordering of the global supplier hierarchy, cementing China’s role as the sector’s center of gravity.

Chinese OEMs’ Global Market Ascent

In 2024, Chinese firms achieved a landmark accomplishment by securing the top three positions in global wind turbine installations. This event marked a significant turning point, demonstrating their ability to out-produce established Western players like Vestas and GE Vernova. The sheer volume of domestic projects provides a stable demand pipeline, insulating these companies from the volatility of international markets.

• For the first time, Goldwind, Envision, and Ming Yang were the top three global wind turbine manufacturers in 2024 based on new installations, a clear departure from previous years where Western OEMs held top spots.
• Goldwind led all manufacturers with 16.7 GW of new capacity installed globally in 2024, with 95% of its volume deployed within China.
• The market shift was stark: the top three Chinese OEMs alone accounted for a significant portion of the 109 GW of global onshore wind capacity added in 2024.
• This contrasts with the market prior to 2024, where non-Chinese OEMs held a more substantial share of the top rankings. This ascent is also visible in related sectors, with China leading in offshore wind company development and the construction of mega-scale battery projects to support grid integration.

The Acceleration of Turbine Capacity

Alongside market share gains, Chinese manufacturers are engaged in a fierce technological race to increase the power rating of onshore turbines. This has led to the commercial deployment of units with capacities that were considered experimental just a few years ago. The rapid progression from an average of 6.05 MW for new turbines in 2024 to the installation of a 15 MW prototype underscores the pace of innovation.

• In October 2024, Sany Renewable Energy installed a 15 MW onshore wind turbine in Xinjiang, which was recognized as the world’s largest and most powerful onshore unit at the time.
• By May 2025, Windey announced it had commenced commercial delivery of its 10 MW onshore turbines, indicating that double-digit megawatt ratings are moving from prototype to standard commercial offerings.
• This rapid upscaling far exceeds the typical turbine sizes being deployed in the US onshore wind and European onshore wind markets, giving Chinese OEMs a distinct product advantage in regions suitable for such large machines.

Chinese OEMs Lead Global Onshore Wind Installations in 2024
Chinese manufacturers, notably Goldwind (20GW) and Envision (17GW), lead global onshore wind turbine installations in 2024. These companies primarily focus on the domestic Chinese onshore market, enabling rapid scale-up and driving significant market share gains.

Chinese Manufacturers Dominate 2024 Global Wind Turbine Market
Six of the top 10 global wind turbine manufacturers by installed base in 2024 are Chinese companies (Goldwind, Envision, Windey, Mingyang, Sany, Dongfang Electric). Goldwind leads globally with nearly 20 GW, primarily from China, highlighting the country’s overwhelming dominance in wind turbine production.

(Source: GWEC Market Intelligence — via China Wind Energy Market Report: Size, Growth, Trends & Forecast (2025–2033))

China’s Domestic Dominance, Goldwind’s Role in 80 GW Installation

China’s onshore wind sector operates at a scale that effectively makes it a separate and dominant global market. The country’s installation figures single-handedly drive global growth statistics, with deployment volumes in the first half of 2025 alone dwarfing the annual additions of other leading nations. This geographic concentration is a direct result of state-led policy and provides a formidable advantage to its domestic champions.

The Scale of Domestic Deployment

The numbers illustrating China’s domestic build-out are staggering and accelerated significantly between 2024 and 2025. This massive deployment is the engine that powers the entire Chinese wind energy supply chain, from raw material processing to turbine manufacturing and project development.

• China installed 79.8 GW of new wind capacity in 2024, accounting for approximately 70% of the global total. The onshore segment constituted the vast majority of these additions.
• The pace quickened in 2025, with China installing 51.4 GW of new wind capacity in the first six months, more than doubling the 25.9 GW installed in H 1 2024.
• This growth is guided by the 14 th Five-Year Plan, which includes targets for over 300 GW of new wind power across 25 provincial plans by the end of 2025.

Emerging International Expansion

While the domestic market remains the primary focus, leading Chinese OEMs are increasingly leveraging their cost and technology advantages to pursue international expansion. This marks a strategic shift from being purely domestic suppliers to becoming global competitors, a trend that became more visible in 2024 and 2025.

• In May 2025, Windey announced plans to establish factories in Brazil, signaling a concrete move to build a manufacturing presence in a key international market.
• Sany Renewable Energy has been actively targeting European markets, beginning in September 2024 with an 8 MW onshore turbine designed for international standards.
• This expansion strategy mirrors trends seen in China’s offshore wind sector, where domestic giants are also beginning to look overseas for new growth opportunities, although they face challenges similar to those encountered by companies like Ørsted in navigating complex international regulations.

China’s Scale Dictates Global Wind Supply Chains and Innovation
China’s massive market share for new wind capacity additions in 2024 implies significant control over global wind turbine manufacturing, supply chains, and technology development. This dominance shapes international pricing, innovation cycles, and the competitive landscape for non-Chinese developers, making it critical for global players to understand China’s policy and industrial strategies.

(Source: GWEC — via Chinese Manufacturers Dominating Global Wind Market | Enerdata)

Technology Maturity, Sany’s 15 MW Onshore Turbine

China’s onshore wind technology has reached full commercial maturity, with its leading manufacturers now defining the upper limits of turbine size and power output. The period between 2024 and 2025 was characterized by the transition of double-digit megawatt turbines from prototypes to commercially available products, validating the country’s R&D and manufacturing capabilities.

From 6 MW to 10 MW Commercial Standard

The average size of newly installed onshore wind turbines in China has grown consistently, but the leap to a 10 MW standard for certain projects represents a major technological and commercial milestone. This shift allows for greater energy production from a smaller number of turbines, reducing levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and project footprint.

• The average power rating of new turbines installed in China reached 6.05 MW in 2024, already among the highest in the world.
• Windey’s commercial delivery of 10 MW onshore units in 2025 established a new benchmark for large-scale projects, moving beyond the 6-8 MW class that was standard just a year prior.
• Sany reported strong performance from its 10 MW series turbines in April 2025, confirming their reliability and efficiency in real-world operating conditions, paving the way for wider adoption.

Sany’s 15 MW Prototype Installation

The installation of Sany’s 15 MW onshore turbine in October 2024 was a landmark event that showcased the pinnacle of current onshore technology. While still a prototype, its successful deployment signaled the industry’s trajectory and the technical feasibility of scaling onshore platforms to sizes previously reserved for offshore applications.

• The Sany SI-270150 model, with a rotor diameter of 270 meters, was installed in Bayannur, Inner Mongolia, a key wind power region in China.
• This achievement moves far beyond the technology deployed by most international competitors, including firms like Xcel Energy which focus on well-established turbine models for their onshore projects.
• The development validates a clear technological path toward even larger turbines, with some reports suggesting Chinese OEMs are already planning for models approaching 20 MW, further widening the technology gap with Western counterparts. The strategic implications are significant, mirroring challenges seen in other energy sectors, such as when offshore projects face regulatory hurdles.

SWOT Analysis, China’s Onshore Wind Sector and Goldwind

China’s onshore wind sector is defined by the immense strength of its domestic scale and integrated supply chain, creating significant opportunities for global technology leadership. However, this dominance is accompanied by weaknesses related to market concentration and threats from geopolitical friction and potential international trade barriers.

Table: SWOT Analysis for Onshore Wind in China (2024-2025)

Beyond 15 MW, Sany and Windey’s Next Turbine Generation

The critical strategic question for 2026 is whether China’s onshore wind champions can successfully translate their domestic dominance and technological superiority into sustained international market share. Success will depend on their ability to navigate rising geopolitical tensions and trade protectionism, particularly in Western markets. The key indicator will be the conversion of international interest into firm, bankable orders for their next-generation turbines.

• If this happens: Chinese OEMs like Goldwind, Ming Yang, and Windey secure multi-gigawatt orders in Europe, South America, or the Middle East for their 10 MW+ turbines.
• Watch this: The outcomes of any formal EU anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese wind turbines, as these could erect significant trade barriers and impact project financing for developers using Chinese hardware.
• These could be happening: Western OEMs may accelerate their own R&D for larger onshore turbines or pursue partnerships to remain competitive, while some project developers may opt for Chinese turbines despite political risks to achieve lower project costs. The competitive dynamic is also playing out in the race for advanced offshore wind technology, where companies like Total Energies and Equinor are also making strategic moves.

The questions your competitors are already asking

This report covers one angle of China’s dominance in the global wind turbine market. The questions that matter most depend on your work.

• Chinese wind turbine projects outside China
• EU anti-subsidy investigation Chinese wind turbines
• Vestas GE competitive response to Chinese turbines
• Onshore wind turbine cost comparison China vs Europe

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