In March, with the official release of the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China, a clear blueprint for the wind power industry over the next decade was unveiled. The Outline specifies the development of offshore wind power bases in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, the orderly advancement of deep- and far-offshore wind power development, and the goal of achieving a cumulative grid-connected capacity of more than 100 gigawatts for offshore wind power.
What does this imply? According to statistics from the National Energy Administration, as of December 2025, the nation’s cumulative grid-connected wind power capacity stood at 640 gigawatts, with offshore wind accounting for only 47 gigawatts. This means that over the next five years, new grid-connected offshore wind capacity is expected to exceed 53 gigawatts, translating into an average annual addition of more than 10 gigawatts.
According to industry forecasts, average annual new wind power capacity additions during the 15th Five-Year Plan period are expected to reach 120 gigawatts. Wind power generation is now entering an unprecedented golden decade.
01 Leading the Way in Offshore Wind: From Nearshore to Deep-Sea
The 15th Five-Year Plan’s deployment of offshore wind power marks the entry of China’s offshore wind development into a new phase characterized by large-scale expansion and deeper-water operations.
The comprehensive deployment across the four major sea areas—the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea—signifies that offshore wind power will expand from traditional strongholds such as Jiangsu and Fujian to coastal regions nationwide. According to statistics from the China Wind Energy Association, approximately 5.6 GW of new offshore wind capacity is expected to be added domestically in 2025. Under the targets set for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, average annual additions of offshore wind capacity over the next five years are projected to exceed 10 GW, nearly doubling current levels.
More importantly, the development of ultra-deepwater offshore wind power is accelerating. The successful grid connection of a 20-megawatt offshore wind turbine has provided critical technological support for the large-scale deployment of ultra-deepwater wind projects. Compared with a 16-megawatt unit, the 20-megawatt model can reduce the number of turbine locations by 25%, thereby lowering marine-use costs. Coupled with high-modulus carbon-fiber blades and advanced intelligent control systems, it can boost power-generation efficiency by 5%, collectively driving down the levelized cost of electricity for such projects by 5% to 8%.
As costs continue to decline, the economic viability of deep- and far-offshore wind power will gradually come into full view. According to a research report by Guojin Securities, the accelerated development of deep- and far-offshore and floating wind projects will create structural opportunities in segments such as submarine cables and foundations.
02 Landwind Upgrade: Trade-In Initiative Unleashes Existing Inventory Space
While offshore wind power is experiencing rapid growth, onshore wind power is likewise poised for an upgrade.
According to an analysis by Guojin Securities, the “trade-in” program for wind power is emerging as a new growth driver. Many of China’s early-built wind farms feature small-capacity turbines with low efficiency and high failure rates, placing them at a critical juncture for replacement and modernization. By implementing technological upgrades that replace smaller units with larger ones, wind farm generation efficiency and economic returns can be significantly enhanced.
According to estimates, technological upgrades and renovations of existing wind farms are expected to generate substantial new capacity demand during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Combined with new project development, the average annual onshore wind power capacity addition is likely to remain above 100 GW.
03 Green Power Direct Connection: A New Model Sparks New Demand
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, emerging demands such as direct green-power procurement and green hydrogen–ammonia–methanol will create new growth opportunities for wind power.
Effective January 1, 2026, all new-energy power generated in Henan Province will, in principle, be integrated into the electricity market, with grid-connection prices determined through market-based transactions. This represents a microcosm of the nationwide reform to marketize new-energy pricing. As electricity-market reforms continue to deepen, wind-power projects will place greater emphasis on aligning supply with electricity demand, and the direct-purchase model for green power is expected to expand rapidly.
Meanwhile, the industrialization of hydrogen-based energy carriers such as green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green methanol will provide new outlets for the absorption of wind power. In March 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the “Notice on Launching Pilot Projects for the Comprehensive Application of Hydrogen Energy,” which sets a target to double the national fleet of fuel-cell vehicles by 2030 compared with 2025, aiming to reach 100,000 units. The production of these hydrogen energy carriers will require substantial support from green electricity.
04 Technology-Driven: Large-Capacity Units Reshape the Industry Landscape
The rapid growth of wind power capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period is inseparable from technological advancements.
The most prominent trend is the continuous increase in single-unit capacity. By 2026, 10 MW onshore wind turbines have become the mainstream, and 20 MW offshore wind turbines have successfully been connected to the grid. The widespread adoption of high-capacity units can effectively reduce the cost per kilowatt and enhance the economic viability of projects.
Meanwhile, the level of intelligence continues to rise. Drone-based, non-stop turbine inspection technology has boosted wind farm inspection efficiency by more than 83% while reducing overall O&M costs by approximately 42%. Grid-forming wind-plus-storage technology enables wind turbines to operate stably even in weak-grid conditions.
The integrated application of these technologies is reshaping the cost structure and operational models of the wind power industry.
05 The Golden Decade: Opportunities and Challenges Coexist
The rapid growth of wind power capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period has created vast opportunities across all segments of the industry chain.
In the overall turbine segment, companies with strong R&D capabilities for large-capacity units will capture a larger market share. In the component segment, demand for key components such as blades, gearboxes, and bearings will continue to grow. Meanwhile, offshore wind-specific equipment—such as submarine cables and jacket foundations—is poised to see a concentrated surge in demand, driven by the accelerated development of deep- and far-offshore projects.
According to a research report by Guojin Securities, with industry demand expected to continue growing in 2026 and end-user wind-turbine prices remaining on an upward trajectory, profit elasticity across all segments of the value chain is likely to be further unlocked. As fundamental conditions continue to improve and the market’s entrenched biases against the wind-power sector gradually reverse, the industry’s valuation framework is poised for a reconfiguration that reflects its true value.
Challenges also remain. Intensified market competition, volatile raw-material prices, and slower-than-expected project progress all pose risks that companies must closely monitor.
Nevertheless, the release of the 15th Five-Year Plan for wind power has injected strong confidence into the industry. The target of adding an average of 120 gigawatts of installed capacity per year means that the wind power sector will maintain steady growth over the next decade. For the companies and professionals operating within this sector, this is truly the best of times.
Disclaimer: If the videos, images, or text used in this article infringe upon any copyright, please notify us immediately, and we will promptly remove them. This content is for non-commercial purposes only.