On December 1, the construction of China’s first national-level offshore wind power research, test and inspection base (hereinafter referred to as the “Offshore Wind Power Test Base”) started in Fujian. 

The Offshore Wind Power Test Base is a significant project in the 14th Five-Year Plan and an essential component of the national key laboratory for renewable energy grid connection. It is jointly invested and constructed by State Grid Corporation of China, China Huadian Corporation Ltd., Power Construction Corporation of China, and other units. The overall completion and operation of the base are scheduled in 2024. The base comprises both an onshore testing center and an experimental offshore wind farm. The onshore testing center is located in Jiangyin Industrial Park, Fuqing City, adjacent to the Three Gorges International Offshore Wind Power Industrial Park. The first batch of 20 offshore test sites for the experimental wind farm is located in the offshore area of Changle.

In recent years, leveraging its excellent offshore wind resources, Fujian has accelerated the development of the offshore wind power industry. The Three Gorges International Offshore Wind Power Industrial Park has attracted well-known enterprises in the offshore wind power equipment supply chain, such as Goldwind Sci & Tech Co., Ltd. and Dongfang Electric Corporation, and formed a complete industrial chain production pattern for wind turbines and major components, with the offshore wind power equipment industry cluster in the province achieving an annual output value of 10 billion yuan. Upon completion, the Offshore Wind Power Test Base will provide scientific research, test and verification, exchange and sharing services for upstream and downstream players in the entire industry chain, including offshore wind power equipment manufacturers, scientific research institutions, and operating units. This is significant for enhancing the technological level and manufacturing capacity of wind power in Fujian and across China, contributing to the high-quality development of the offshore wind power industry, and supporting the realization of the goals of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”.

The construction of the Offshore Wind Power Test Base is also conducive to advancing the development of new power systems and a new energy system, and serving the transition to clean and low-carbon energy. Fujian, as a province rich in clean energy, had a clean energy installed capacity of 50.27 million kilowatts, accounting for 62.6% of the total installed capacity as of the end of October this year. The scale of grid-connected offshore wind power is expected to continue expanding. The new power system features both high proportion of renewable energy and high proportion of power electronic devices, raising the requirements for the secure and stable operation of the power grid. After its completion, the base will provide efficient and reliable technical means for large-capacity offshore wind turbine grid connection tests, and the performance quality and grid connection friendliness level of wind turbines will be ameliorated. This will ensure the secure and reliable operation of the power grid under the large-scale integration of wind power.