China has overtaken Germany as the second largest wind power developer after the United States.

However, China is still beginning to develop its offshore wind power sector, due to complex operating environments for offshore turbines, high technological requirements, and construction difficulties.

Offshore wind farms are constructed in sea areas below the average high tide marks of coastal areas over the years, and uninhabited islands in sea areas.

However, offshore wind power remained an orientation of future wind power development, said Qin.

China's offshore wind power potential is estimated at more than 750 million kilowatts (exploitable at the height of 10 meters), much larger than the 253 million kilowatts of exploitable land-based wind power potential, said China Meteorological Administration.

The country's first pilot offshore wind farm was constructed in 2008. The Shanghai East Sea Bridge Offshore Wind Farm has a total installed capacity of 100MW, comprising 34 sets of 3MW turbines from Sinovel, the country's largest wind turbine producer. It will go into operation before the inauguration of the World Expo Shanghai, which is scheduled for May 1, 2010.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is beginning construction this year of an offshore wind farm in Weihai, east China's Shandong Province, which is scheduled to produce 1.1GW in 10 years. The first stage will have 30 sets of 1.5MW turbines producing 45 MW.

On February 2, Shenhua Group Corporation announced it would start early phase works for the examination and approval of the third stage project of the Dongtai Wind Farm (a 300MW offshore project, with 84 sets of 3.6MW turbines from Shanghai Electric.) It has also started planning for the fourth stage 300MW offshore project, scheduled to have 84 sets of 3.6MW turbines from Shanghai Electric.

Other leading Chinese power businesses, such as China Power Investment Corporation, Longyuan Electric and Huaneng New Energy, have also been attracted to the promising offshore wind power sector. They have begun to study offshore wind farms in Dafeng and Rudong of east China's Jiangsu Province and Roncheng of east China's Shandong Province.

Chinese wind turbine manufacturers are investing heavily to grab a share of the market.

Sinovel, an early starter, began to develop offshore wind turbines in 2006. It has focused on developing 3MW and 5MW offshore wind turbines. In April 2009, work began to install its 3MW wind turbines in the Shanghai East Sea Bridge Offshore Wind Farm, said Han Junliang, board chairman of Sinovel.

In January this year, Sinovel started construction of a 5MW offshore turbine production base in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. Han said Sinovel had finished designing the 5MW turbines and would produce the first sample turbine at the end of the year.

Goldwind, China's second largest wind turbine producer, is expected to complete construction of a production base for offshore turbines in Dafeng, Jiangsu Province, in October. In three to five years, the base will have an annual capacity of 800 to 1,000 sets of turbines.

Dongfang Electric, Shanghai Electric and XEMC are also eyeing the offshore wind turbine market.

Foreign wind turbine producers are eager to join. VESTAS, of Denmark, has intensified market research and exploration of the Chinese offshore wind power market. It has set up an offshore wind power office, dedicated to develop Chinese offshore wind power business.

Senior officials of Germany's Siemens are considering setting up an offshore turbine plant in Weihai, Shandong Province.

Chinese wind turbine manufacturers are investing heavily to grab a share of the market.

Sinovel, an early starter, began to develop offshore wind turbines in 2006. It has focused on developing 3MW and 5MW offshore wind turbines. In April 2009, work began to install its 3MW wind turbines in the Shanghai East Sea Bridge Offshore Wind Farm, said Han Junliang, board chairman of Sinovel.

In January this year, Sinovel started construction of a 5MW offshore turbine production base in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. Han said Sinovel had finished designing the 5MW turbines and would produce the first sample turbine at the end of the year.

Goldwind, China's second largest wind turbine producer, is expected to complete construction of a production base for offshore turbines in Dafeng, Jiangsu Province, in October. In three to five years, the base will have an annual capacity of 800 to 1,000 sets of turbines.

Dongfang Electric, Shanghai Electric and XEMC are also eyeing the offshore wind turbine market.

Foreign wind turbine producers are eager to join. VESTAS, of Denmark, has intensified market research and exploration of the Chinese offshore wind power market. It has set up an offshore wind power office, dedicated to develop Chinese offshore wind power business.

Senior officials of Germany's Siemens are considering setting up an offshore turbine plant in Weihai, Shandong Province.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2010)