Development and Future Challenges of Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Technologies in China

Haozhe Bai; Kun Xu; Zhen Gao

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.006

Engineering ›› :202601006 DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.006

Views & Comments

research-article

Development and Future Challenges of Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Technologies in China

Haozhe Bai ^a
, Kun Xu ^a^,^*
, Zhen Gao ^b^,^*

Author information +

History +

PDF

Cite this article

Download citation ▾

Haozhe Bai, Kun Xu, Zhen Gao. Development and Future Challenges of Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Technologies in China. Engineering 202601006 DOI:10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.006

登录浏览全文

4963

注册一个新账户忘记密码

References

Publishing order | Descend order by publishing year | Descend order by cited within

[1]	Gong Y, He L, Ye G, Zeng J. Climate policy must integrate blue energy with food security. Nature 2024; 625(7994):241.

[2]	O’Meara S, Ye Y. Four research teams powering China’s net-zero energy goal. Nature 2022; 603(7902):S41-3.

[3]	Beiter P, Mai T, Mowers M, Bistline J. Expanded modelling scenarios to understand the role of offshore wind in decarbonizing the United States. Nat Energy 2023; 8(11):1240-9.

[4]	Gonzalez N, Serna-Torre P, Sánchez-Pérez PA, Davidson R, Murray B, Staadecker M, et al. Offshore wind and wave energy can reduce total installed capacity required in zero-emissions grids. Nat Commun 2024; 15(1):6826.

[5]	Bai H, Zhang M, Yuan W, Xu K. Conceptual design, parameter optimization and performance investigation of a 10 MW semi-submersible floating wind turbine in shallow water. Ocean Eng 2023;281:114895.

[6]	Xu K, Larsen K, Shao Y, Zhang M, Gao Z, Moan T. Design and comparative analysis of alternative mooring systems for floating wind turbines in shallow water with emphasis on ultimate limit state design. Ocean Eng 2021;219:108377.

[7]	Heronemus WE.Pollution-free energy from offshore winds. In:Proceedings of the 8th Annual Conference and Exposition, Marine Technology Society; 1972 Sep 11-13; Washington, DC, USA. Ann Arbor: HathiTrust; 1972.

[8]	Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Global offshore wind report 2025. Report. Brussels: GWEC; 2025.

[9]	Edwards EC, Holcombe A, Brown S, Ransley E, Hann M, Greaves D. Evolution of floating offshore wind platforms: a review of at-sea devices. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2023;183:113416.

[10]	Jiang Z. Mooring design for floating wind turbines: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2025;212:115231.

[11]	Hywind Scotland [Internet]. Stavanger: Equinor ASA; [cited 2025 Jan 20]. Available from:

[12]	Hywind Tampen: the world’s first renewable power for offshore oil and gas [Internet]. Stavanger: Equinor ASA; 2023 Oct 5

[13]	[ 2025 Jan 20]

[14]	Jiang Z. Installation of offshore wind turbines: a technical review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2021;139:110576.

[15]	Ren Z, Verma AS, Li Y, Teuwen JJE, Jiang Z. Offshore wind turbine operations and maintenance: a state-of-the-art review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2021;144:110866.

[16]	WindFloat 1 [Internet]. Emeryville: Principle Power; [cited 2025 Jan 20].

[17]	WindFloat Atlantic [Internet]. Emeryville: Principle Power; [cited 2025 Jan 20]. Available from:

[18]	Kincardine offshore wind farm [Internet]. Emeryville: Principle Power; [cited 2025 Jan 20]. Available from:

[19]	Xia S, Yang Y, Liu Y. Potential of China’s offshore wind energy. Science 2023; 379(6635):888.

[20]	Rui S, Zhou Z, Gao Z, Jostad HP, Wang L, Xu H, et al. A review on mooring lines and anchors of floating marine structures. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2024;199:114547.

[21]	Wiser R, Jenni K, Seel J, Baker E, Hand M, Lantz E, et al. Expert elicitation survey on future wind energy costs. Nat Energy 2016; 1(10):16135.

[22]	Det Norske Veritas (DNV). DNV-ST-0119: Floating wind turbine structures. DNV standard. Høvik: DNV; 2021.

[23]	Det Norske Veritas (DNV). DNV-ST-0437: Loads and site conditions for wind turbines. DNV standard. Høvik: DNV; 2024.

[24]	Det Norske Veritas (DNV). DNV-ST-0126: Support structures for wind turbines. DNV standard. Høvik: DNV; 2021.

[25]	Det Norske Veritas (DNV). DNV-ST-0376: Rotor blades for wind turbines. DNV standard. Høvik: DNV; 2024.

[26]	Det Norske Veritas (DNV). DNV-ST-0361: Machinery for wind turbines. DNV standard. Høvik: DNV; 2016.

[27]	International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). IEC 61400-3-2: Design requirements for floating offshore wind turbines. IEC standard. Geneva: IEC; 2025.

[28]	State Administration for Market Regulation, Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China. GB/Z 44047- 2024: Floating offshore wind turbines—Design requirements. Chinese standard. Beijing: Standards Press of China; 2024. Chinese.

[29]	Xu K, Zhang M, Shao Y, Gao Z, Moan T. Effect of wave nonlinearity on fatigue damage and extreme responses of a semi-submersible floating wind turbine. Appl Ocean Res 2019;91:101879.

[30]	Haider R, Shi W, Cai Y, Lin Z, Li X, Hu Z. A comprehensive numerical model for aero-hydro-mooring analysis of a floating offshore wind turbine. Renew Energy 2024;237:121793.

[31]	Haider R, Shi W, Lin Z, Cai Y, Zhao H, Li X. Coupled analysis of floating offshore wind turbines with new mooring systems by CFD method. Ocean Eng 2024;312:119054.

[32]	Wang S, Moan T, Gao Z. Methodology for global structural load effect analysis of the semi-submersible hull of floating wind turbines under still water, wind, and wave loads. Mar Struct 2023;91:103463.

[33]	Sajeer MM, Mitra A, Chakraborty A. Multi-body dynamic analysis of offshore wind turbine considering soil-structure interaction for fatigue design of monopile. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 2021;144:106674.

[34]	Akhtar N, Geyer B, Schrum C. Larger wind turbines as a solution to reduce environmental impacts. Sci Rep 2024; 14(1):6608.

[35]	Wan L, Moan T, Gao Z, Shi W. A review on the technical development of combined wind and wave energy conversion systems. Energy 2024;294:130885.

[36]	Papi F, Bianchini A. Technical challenges in floating offshore wind turbine upscaling: a critical analysis based on the NREL 5 MW and IEA 15 MW reference turbines. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2022;162:112489.

[37]	Zahle F, Barlas T, Lonbaek K, Bortolotti P, Zalkind D, Wang L, et al. Definition of the IEA wind 22-megawatt offshore reference wind turbine. Report. Golden: National Renewable Energy Laboratory; 2024.

[38]	Abbas NJ, Jasa J, Zalkind DS, Wright A, Pao L. Control co-design of a floating offshore wind turbine. Appl Energy 2024;353:122036.

[39]	Wang L, Bergua R, Robertson A, Wright A, Zalkind D, Fowler M, et al. Experimental investigation of advanced turbine control strategies and load-mitigation measures with a model-scale floating offshore wind turbine system. Appl Energy 2024;355:122343.

[40]	Jeong M, Loth E, Qin C, Selig M, Johnson N. Aerodynamic rotor design for a 25 MW offshore downwind turbine. Appl Energy 2024;353:122035.

[41]	Kvittem MI, Vien Eliassen L, Panjwani B, Levick T, Thomas M. Influence of platform dynamic yaw motions on wake, and subsequent impacts on downwind turbine power and loads. J Phys Conf Ser 2024; 2745(1):012007.

[42]	Albanesi AE, Peralta I, Bre F, Storti BA, Fachinotti VD. An optimization method based on the evolutionary and topology approaches to reduce the mass of composite wind turbine blades. Struct Multidiscipl Optim 2020; 62(2):619-43.

[43]	Grinderslev C, González Horcas S, Sørensen NN. Fluid-structure interaction simulations of a wind turbine rotor in complex flows, validated through field experiments. Wind Energy 2021; 24(12):1426-42.

[44]	Madsen MHA, Zahle F, Sørensen NN, Martins JRRA. Multipoint high-fidelity CFD-based aerodynamic shape optimization of a 10 MW wind turbine. Wind Energy Sci 2019; 4(2):163-92.

[45]	Shaw WJ, Berg LK, Debnath M, Deskos G, Draxl C, Ghate VP, et al. Scientific challenges to characterizing the wind resource in the marine atmospheric boundary layer. Wind Energy Sci 2022; 7(6):2307-34.

[46]	Truong HVA, Dang TD, Vo CP, Ahn KK. Active control strategies for system enhancement and load mitigation of floating offshore wind turbines: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2022;170:112958.

[47]	Xing Y, Karimirad M, Moan T. Effect of spar-type floating wind turbine nacelle motion on drivetrain dynamics. In:Proceedings of EWEA 2012 annual event; 2012 Apr 16-19; Copenhagen, Denmark. Brussels: European Wind Energy Association; 2012.

[48]	Cao Q, Xiao L, Cheng Z, Liu M, Wen B. Operational and extreme responses of a new concept of 10 MW semi-submersible wind turbine in intermediate water depth: an experimental study. Ocean Eng 2020;217:108003.

[49]	Wang J, Ren Y, Shi W, Collu M, Venugopal V, Li X. Multi-objective optimization design for a 15 MW semisubmersible floating offshore wind turbine using evolutionary algorithm. Appl Energy 2025;377:124533.

[50]	Liu G, Jiang Z, Zhang H, Du Y, Tian X, Wen B, et al. A novel real-time hybrid testing method for twin-rotor floating wind turbines with single-point mooring systems. Ocean Eng 2024;312:119151.

[51]	Zhao S, Bai H, Xu K, Du J, Zhang M, Yuan W, et al. Current sates, development trends, and technical challenges for floating offshore wind turbine installation. Period Ocean Univ China 2024; 54(10):13-28.

[52]	The TetraSpar full-scale demonstration project [Internet]. Copenhagen: Stiesdal; [cited 2025 Jan 20]. Available from:

[53]	Edwards EC, Holcombe A, Brown S, Ransley E, Hann M, Greaves D. Trends in floating offshore wind platforms: a review of early-stage devices. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2024;193:114271.

[54]	Subbulakshmi A, Verma M, Keerthana M, Sasmal S, Harikrishna P, Kapuria S. Recent advances in experimental and numerical methods for dynamic analysis of floating offshore wind turbines—an integrated review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2022;164:112525.

[55]	Li T, Zhang Y, Yang Q, Zhou X, Zhang Z, Wang T. Unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of a floating offshore wind turbine in propeller state. Renew Energy 2025;246:122861.

[56]	Deng S, Liu Y, Ning D. Fully coupled aero-hydrodynamic modelling of floating offshore wind turbines in nonlinear waves using a direct time-domain approach. Renew Energy 2023;216:119016.

[57]	Bai H, Wang S, Moan T, Li S, Xu K, Zhang M, et al. Advancing insights into the structural loads effects in a semi-submersible floating wind turbine tower considering sum-frequency wave excitation. Mar Struct. In press.

[58]	Bai H, Xu K, Zhang M, Yuan W, Jin R, Li W, et al. Theoretical and experimental study of the high-frequency nonlinear dynamic response of a 10 MW semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine. Renew Energy 2024;231:120952.

[59]	Ran X, Bachynski-Polić EE. Time-domain simulation, fatigue and extreme responses for a fully flexible TLP floating wind turbine. Mar Struct 2025;101:103778.

[60]	Wang S, Moan T. Methodology of load effect analysis and ultimate limit state design of semi-submersible hulls of floating wind turbines: with a focus on floater column design. Mar Struct 2024;93:103526.

[61]	Gao Z, Merino D, Han KJ, Li H, Fiskvik S. Time-domain floater stress analysis for a floating wind turbine. J Ocean Eng Sci 2023; 8(4):435-45.

[62]	Wang B, Cui C, Xu C, Meng K, Li J, Xu L. A novel analytical solution for horizontal vibration of partially embedded offshore piles considering the distribution effect of wave loads. Ocean Eng 2024;307:118179.

[63]	Chen C, Ma Y, Fan T. Review of model experimental methods focusing on aerodynamic simulation of floating offshore wind turbines. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2022;157:112036.

[64]

Thys M, Fontanella A, Taruffi F, Belloli M, Berthelsen PA. Hybrid model tests for floating offshore wind turbines. In:Proceedings of the ASME 2019 2nd International Offshore Wind Technical Conference; 2019 Nov 3-6; St. Julian’s, Malta. Washington, DC: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME); 2019. p. V001T01A023.

[65]	Bonnefoy F, Leroy V, Mojallizadeh MR, Delacroix S, Arnal V, Gilloteaux JC.Multidimensional hybrid software-in-the-loop modeling approach for experimental analysis of a floating offshore wind turbine in wave tank experiments. Ocean Eng 2024; 309(Pt 1):118390.

[66]	Fu J, Shi W, Han X, Karimirad M, Wang T, Li X. Development and performance study of a multi-degree-of-freedom loading device for real-time hybrid model testing of floating offshore wind turbines. Mar Struct 2025;99:103717.

[67]	Offshore wind and marine energy-shared mooring systems [Internet]. Grand Rapids: Matt Hall; [2025 Jan 20]. Available from:

[68]	Porté-Agel F, Bastankhah M, Shamsoddin S. Wind-turbine and wind-farm flows: a review. Bound Layer Meteor 2020; 174(1):1-59.

[69]	Hong S, Mcmorland J, Zhang H, Collu M, Halse KH. Floating offshore wind farm installation, challenges and opportunities: a comprehensive survey. Ocean Eng 2024;304:117793.

[70]	van den Berg D, De Tavernier D, Marten D, Saverin J, Van Wingerden JW. Wake mixing control for floating wind farms: analysis of the implementation of the helix wake mixing strategy on the IEA 15-MW floating wind turbine. IEEE Control Syst 2024; 44(5):81-105.

[71]	Tian Z, Shi W, Li X, Park Y, Jiang Z, Wu J. Numerical simulations of floating offshore wind turbines with shared mooring under current-only conditions. Renew Energy 2025;238:121918.

[72]	Xie L, Li C, Yue M, He H, Jia W, Liu Q, et al. Dynamic analysis of an improved shared moorings for floating offshore wind farm. Renew Energy 2024;232:120963.

[73]	Lei Y, Li W, Zheng XY, Zheng H, Gao S, Zhao S. A floating system integrating a wind turbine with a steel fish farming cage: experimental validation of the hydrodynamic model. Mar Struct 2024;93:103525.

[74]	Chen P, Kang Y, Xu S, Liu L, Cheng Z. Numerical modeling and dynamic response analysis of an integrated semi-submersible floating wind and aquaculture system. Renew Energy 2024;225:120355.

[75]	Chen Z, Sun J, Yang J, Sun Y, Chen Q, Zhao H, et al. Experimental and numerical analysis of power take-off control effects on the dynamic performance of a floating wind-wave combined system. Renew Energy 2024;226:120353.

[76]	Yi Y, Sun K, Liu Y, Zhang J, Zhang H, Zhu R, et al. Coupled numerical framework for wind-wave-to-wire energy conversion in floating hybrid wind-wave systems. Appl Energy 2026;403:127106.

[77]	Chen L, Yang J, Lou C. Floating wind-integrated PV system yield analysis considering AHSE dynamics & solar azimuth effects. Energ Conver Manage 2024;315:118799.

[78]	Oh SY, Joung C, Lee S, Shim YB, Lee D, Cho GE, et al. Condition-based maintenance of wind turbine structures: a state-of-the-art review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2024;204:114799.