After the impact of "nuclear crisis" in Japan, renewable energy with safety and high economy is attracting more and more attention. Following successfully large scale development of onshore wind power, a new wave of offshore wind rising is sweeping Europe, China and US. As the leader of offshore wind, European installed capacity accounts for 90% of global volume. In 2010, 308 new offshore wind turbines was installed in Europe, which is 51% higher than 2009. Predicted by EWEA, about 1000MW – 1500MW new offshore wind capacity will be connected into grid in 2011, and the total installed capacity in Europe will reach about 7GW in 2020. With 1.3GW offshore wind installed capacity, UK is leading the industry in Europe even globally. The advanced offshore wind technology, finance strength and mode, feasible development plan and policy have been the benchmark of global offshore wind industry.

In order to meet the emission reduction target on time before 2020, China showed ambition in offshore wind development. In accordance with the new energy sub-plan of China’s “12th Year Plan”, by the end of 2015, China will complete total offshore wind installed capacity of 5GW, and will complete about 30 GW before the end of 2020. Following this national plan, in October of 2010, the 1st round concession bid for offshore wind power of 1GW, and the 2nd round concession bid of 1.5GW – 2GW will be completed in the 1st half of 2012, which will also expand the development area. The new wave of large scale offshore wind development in China bring tremendous opportunity to the whole value chain, from developer, operators, wind turbine manufactures to component, marine contactors and relevant solution providers.

However, low on-grid power price, high cost, lack of mature technology and other problems are threatening the stable development of offshore win in China, and international cooperation has been one of the most essential issues to overcome these obstacles.