An aerial drone photo taken on Jan 11, 2025 shows an offshore wind farm near the coast of Yancheng, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/Xinhua]

At the recent Offshore Wind Conference in Dalian, Liaoning province, a new alliance for the modern offshore wind industry was established to promote coordinated development across the industrial chain.

China's offshore wind sector has grown rapidly in recent years, but faces mounting challenges such as technology bottlenecks and supply chain risks, said Zhang Liyi, deputy general manager of China Three Gorges Renewables Group. Because the industry is highly integrated, no single player can tackle these problems alone, he added.

The new alliance aims to strengthen cooperation among five key segments of the industrial chain, including equipment manufacturing, research, and education, to strengthen resilience, boost innovation, and reinforce the industry's role in driving the marine economy.

During the conference, a series of key achievements were showcased, including a 20MW offshore wind turbine. Zhang noted that developing and deploying such large-scale equipment requires close coordination among blade and bearing manufacturers, foundation builders, and offshore installation specialists. Collaborative innovation, he said, has already helped cut costs and lower the price of grid integration.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–30), Zhang said offshore wind power will play a vital role in China's new energy system. The sector's integrated development is expected to spur economic growth, technological progress, and regional investment and employment.