China's offshore wind: beyond carbon cuts, it boosts coastal energy security and jobs

China's offshore wind buildout is often debated on cost alone, but a new study shows it delivers more than clean power. With roughly half of global offshore wind capacity already, China aims for 100 GW by 2030. Researchers modeled up to 1,000 GW by 2050 and found coastal provinces could shift from net electricity importers to exporters, raising energy self-sufficiency by 26 percentage points versus a baseline. That would also cut the need for long-distance transmission and support local jobs. The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, uses an open-source grid simulator to compare scenarios. Even the moderate path sees offshore wind costs falling 43% by 2050, making it competitive with other sources. The aggressive scenario is not a forecast but an exploration of technical potential, informed by targets in other large economies. It highlights how offshore wind can address reliability concerns that have driven new coal approvals, while aligning local priorities with national decarbonization goals.