On July 28, 2026, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report stating that global renewable energy investment is expected to exceed $2 trillion for the first time in 2026, with offshore wind becoming the fastest-growing segment. In China, as coastal provinces such as Shandong, Guangdong, and Jiangsu have successively issued deep-sea offshore wind development plans, newly installed offshore wind capacity reached 8.2 GW in the first half of 2026, up 67% year-on-year, hitting a record high for the same period. This explosive growth not only marks China's energy transition entering deeper waters but also reveals a new energy gold rush roadmap for investors.
Policy Dividends Intensify, Deep-Sea Offshore Wind Gains Strategic Positioning
2026 is the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, and the energy policy focus has clearly shifted toward deep-sea areas. The National Energy Administration's Deep-Sea Offshore Wind Development Plan (2026-2030), released early this year, sets a target of 60 GW of deep-sea offshore wind capacity by 2030, a fivefold increase from 2025. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources has streamlined the approval process for sea area use, placing projects with single-unit capacity above 16 MW on a "green channel," significantly shortening development cycles. At the local level, Guangdong Province has pioneered comprehensive development subsidies for "offshore wind + marine ranching + hydrogen energy," providing an operational subsidy of RMB 0.3 per kWh for deep-sea projects; Shandong Province has established a RMB 20 billion marine energy industry fund focusing on key technologies such as floating foundations and high-voltage transmission. With this policy mix, deep-sea offshore wind is moving from demonstration to large-scale commercial application.
Technological Breakthroughs Drive Cost Plunge, Grid Parity Accelerates
Cost was once the biggest bottleneck for deep-sea offshore wind development, but a series of technological breakthroughs in 2026 are rewriting the rules. A 20 MW floating wind turbine jointly developed by CSSC Haizhuang and Goldwind has been successfully connected to the grid in Zhejiang waters, with a rotor diameter of 260 meters, annual power generation exceeding 80 million kWh, and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of RMB 0.32 per kWh, falling below traditional coal-fired electricity prices for the first time. In addition, supporting technologies such as dynamic cables, intelligent O&M robots, and ultra-high voltage DC transmission systems have matured, reducing the unit cost of deep-sea projects from RMB 18,000 per kW in 2023 to RMB 12,000 per kW in 2026, a drop of 33%. According to the China Renewable Energy Society, the LCOE of deep-sea offshore wind is expected to fall to RMB 0.25 per kWh by 2028, achieving full grid parity. This cost curve will bring stable returns for long-term energy investments.
Industry Chain Investment Opportunities Emerge, Sub-Sector Leaders Worth Watching
From upstream raw materials to downstream operations, the deep-sea offshore wind industry chain is nurturing multiple investment opportunities. In the turbine manufacturing segment, companies with ultra-large capacity technology will benefit first. For example, Goldwind and Mingyang Smart Energy have launched 18-20 MW products, with market shares continuing to rise. In key components, domestic substitution is accelerating in areas such as deep-sea mooring chains, dynamic submarine cables, and high-end bearings, with related companies like Yaxing Anchor Chain, ZTT, and Xinqianglian having full order books. Particularly noteworthy is the floating foundation structure, which accounts for 25% of total project investment and has high technical barriers. Global floating wind tenders in 2026 reached 5.3 GW, with China accounting for 35%. Leading companies such as Haili Wind Power and Taisheng Wind Energy are expected to secure orders worth over RMB 10 billion. In addition, offshore wind-to-hydrogen is a future blue ocean. SPIC and China Energy Engineering Corporation have launched multiple integrated "wind-hydrogen" demonstration projects, which will open up a trillion-yuan market space in the long term.
Risks and Opportunities Coexist: Rational Layout of Energy Gold Rush Roadmap
Despite the bright prospects, investors need to be wary of three major risks: first, long project approval cycles (deep-sea projects typically take 3-5 years from planning to construction, affecting capital turnover); second, electricity price volatility policies (as the green electricity trading market expands, feed-in tariffs may face pressure); third, technology iteration risks (disruptive energy technologies such as solid-state battery storage and nuclear fusion may alter the competitive landscape). Industry experts suggest that investors should focus on leading companies with technological moats and high order visibility, while diversifying industry risks through ETFs. For example, the proportion of offshore wind component stocks in the CSI New Energy Index has risen to 18%, and related fund products have returned 32% in the past six months.
Conclusion: Seize the Energy Transition High Ground
Deep-sea offshore wind is not only an important tool for achieving carbon neutrality but also one of the most certain energy gold rush tracks in the next decade. With the resonance of policy, technology, and capital, China's offshore wind power is moving from nearshore to deep blue, from policy-driven to endogenous growth. For investors, accurately grasping key links in the industry chain and rationally assessing risks will present opportunities to find golden coordinates on this energy gold rush roadmap. GP Dao Financial Navigation will continue to track industry dynamics and uncover more high-quality investment resources for you.
