Wind Capacity Returns to Growth, New-Energy Transmission Orders Warm Up

Summary: China added about 80 GW of wind capacity in 2025, lifting cumulative installed capacity to around 600 GW. Offshore projects picked up through 2026 with turbines entering the 16–20 MW class, pushing gearbox torque density and gear grinding requirements higher. Power-price market reform and the EU carbon border levy landed in the same window, raising export compliance costs. Geyontech (www.geyontech.com ) grinds to DIN 3, covering M1–M12 cylindrical gears and M1–M10 bevel gears.

Market: Wind Additions Rebound, Gearbox Demand Follows#

About 80 GW of wind added in 2025#

By NEA figures, China added roughly 80 GW of grid-connected wind in 2025, roughly flat against 2024, and cumulative capacity reached about 600 GW by end-2025. Turbine tendering stayed strong in H1 2026, with major OEMs booking orders into 2027.

Offshore ramps up; turbines enter the 16–20 MW class#

Through H1 2026, several gigawatt-scale offshore projects in Guangdong, Shandong, Zhejiang and Fujian moved into installation and grid-connection phases. Unit ratings keep climbing: onshore mainstream is now 8–10 MW, offshore machines are being delivered at 16–20 MW, and prototypes above 20 MW have been unveiled by major OEMs. Every step up in rating means a bigger gearbox torque and larger gear modules.

Gearbox orders and outsourcing rise#

A wind gearbox accounts for roughly 10% of turbine cost, making it one of the higher-value drive components. Major gearbox makers such as NGC are extending their global share and growing overseas revenue; larger modules and ring gear diameters are pushing more heat-treatment and grinding work to outsourced shops. Gear plants with large-module grinding and complete inspection capability hold more room in these outsourcing negotiations.

Geyontech machines cylindrical gears, bevel gears and planetary gear sets for wind gearboxes, with grinding to DIN 3 — see the gear products page .

Technology: Bigger Turbines Push Gear Precision Up#

Materials and heat treatment: 18CrNiMo7-6 is the mainstream#

Wind gearbox gears are mostly made of 18CrNiMo7-6 or 20CrMnTi, carburized and quenched to 58–62 HRC with 1.5–3.0 mm effective case depth depending on module. Distortion control on large ring gears and planetary gears is the critical step; grinding allowance typically runs 0.4–0.8 mm, with rough and finish grinding done in separate passes.

Grinding is now routine for main gearbox gears#

After grinding, profile and lead are held to DIN 3962 grades 4–6 with surface roughness at Ra 0.8 μm or better. Before shipment, a gear measuring center checks profile, lead, pitch accumulation and runout; mating pairs are re-checked on a meshing tester. Main gearboxes for 8–10 MW turbines typically rate above 3,000 kN·m, which puts a premium on flank contact accuracy and load-carrying consistency.

EV drives and PV trackers add precision gear demand#

New energy equipment is not only wind. Drive motors are moving beyond 20,000 rpm, so EV drive gears are commonly specified around DIN 5 with grinding plus paired inspection; solar tracker penetration is rising, lifting demand for slewing drives and their worm and gear sets. These orders are smaller in batch but tighter in precision, which suits a precision gear shop.

Geyontech supplies precision ground gears for new-energy equipment with KISSsoft strength checks and process simulation — see precision gears .

Policy: Power Price Reform and Carbon Tariffs Land Together#

Wind moves fully into the power market#

In February 2025, the NDRC and NEA issued the notice on deepening market-based pricing reform for new-energy electricity (Document 136). From June 1, 2025, all new wind and solar projects trade in the open market with prices set by supply and demand. With pricing now market-driven, whole-life reliability matters more, and quality requirements for gearboxes and other core parts have tightened.

The Energy Law takes effect#

China’s Energy Law took effect on January 1, 2025, prioritizing the development and use of renewable energy. Offshore and deep-sea project approvals are moving faster, and long-cycle demand for transmission components is supported by continued large-base project development.

Export compliance: CBAM now applies, German certification is a gate#

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism moved into its definitive period in 2026, adding carbon costs to the steel and aluminum upstream of gearboxes and gears. For the German wind market, CE/TÜV certification plus REACH and RoHS compliance are baseline requirements; carbon cost and certification lead time should be priced into export quotes.

Related Recommendations from Geyontech#

For wind gearbox, EV drive and new-energy OEM gear needs, Geyontech offers:

• Precision ground gears: cylindrical M1–M12 and bevel M1–M10, grinding to DIN 3 (details )
• Wind gearbox parts: planetary gears, ring gears, sun gears, large-module cylindrical and bevel gears
• Gear design and strength verification with KISSsoft, process simulation and option comparison
• Full inspection: gear measuring center plus meshing tester for paired gears, reports included

Technical documents and selection support: Geyontech , or reach the engineering team via the contact page .

Date: August 21, 2026 | Sources: NEA, NDRC public documents, industry surveys