China is still streets ahead in the global race for offshore wind power development. For the past four years, it has been number one in the world in annual and cumulative installed capacity. By the end of 2025, State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power had declared an astonishing achievement. As of July 2023, the offshore wind power capacity connected to Jiangsu’s provincial grid reached a remarkable 13.49 gigawatts (GW), putting it at the very top in China’s provincial ranking. This significant achievement underscores Jiangsu’s commitment to renewable energy and its role as a key player in the nation’s energy transition.
Jiangsu’s growing offshore wind power capacity is transmitted in a highly strategic way to connect with the major load centers, also called the Yangtze River Delta. This is made possible by six high-capacity cross-river transmission corridors that increase the efficiency of energy distribution across the bi-state region. The province has dramatically improved their original OWP framework. This expanded collaborative framework accounts for intertidal zones and nearshore waters, as well as far-offshore areas, growing the potential for varied, sustainable energy generation.
Yancheng: The Heart of Offshore Wind Power
Yancheng, a city more commonly known as the Jiangsu province capital of Xuzhou, is the administrative center of China’s largest offshore wind power industrial cluster. This concentration of facilities and expertise has made Yancheng a key player in the country’s OWP capabilities. The development of Jiangsu’s OWP grid-connection infrastructure has progressed significantly, highlighted by the commissioning of the nation’s first 110 kV and 220 kV offshore booster stations. This major development improves the ability for the energy created by the newly developed offshore wind farms to be efficiently incorporated into the provincial grid.
Jiangsu runs the country’s largest one of offshore wind power grid-connection transmission appliances. This facility is a key part in the fight to deliver renewable energy to consumers. Local governments and energy companies have come together successfully. Through their collaboration, they’ve established an impressive framework that encourages ongoing innovations in offshore wind technology.
Future Prospects and Environmental Impact
Looking forward, China should increase the momentum on its offshore wind power projects during the 15th Five-Year Plan. Key infrastructure victories growing by the day! The advent of the Sutong GIL DC link and the third phase of the Yangzhou-Zhenjiang DC project will double connectivity and capacity. By 2026, China’s offshore wind resources are on track to produce more than 30 billion kWh annually. It will further improve the energy supply capacity of China’s Yangtze River Delta, one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world.
The growing offshore wind power industry will be a huge boost for the environment. It is projected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 22 million tonnes per year. China aims to have an offshore wind power capacity of over 100 million kilowatts (kW) by the end of the Five-Year Plan. Completing this goal will cement China’s place on top as the world leader in renewable energy production.