I. Technological breakthrough and product innovation
Breakthrough in the localisation of ultra-high-power gearboxes
-Domestic enterprises have made significant progress in the field of offshore wind gearboxes.
Hunan Southern Aerospace High Precision Transmission Co., Ltd. and Dongfang Wind Power jointly developed 26 MW offshore wind power gearbox, using fully integrated transmission chain design, overcome the large size planetary frame machining, inner gear ring heat treatment and other process difficulties, set the world's largest offshore wind power gearbox record, and was selected as one of the ‘Top Ten National Important Weapons of Central Enterprises in the Year of 2024 ‘.
-In addition, Qinchuan Group successfully delivered the world's largest wind power gearbox casting with a single weight of 29.56 tonnes, which verified the capability of domestic enterprises in the manufacture of ultra-large components.
Intelligent and Digital Upgrade
The information-based gearbox system launched by South High Gear Group realises the whole life cycle management of gearboxes through condition monitoring, cloud computing and big data analysis technologies.
-The system can assess the operation status in real time, carry out remote diagnosis and early warning at the early stage of failure, and reduce the loss of power generation caused by maintenance. Venable Pole (formerly Flanders) has developed the CMaS Explorer online monitoring system, which combines sliding bearing technology and planetary equalisation technology to improve the reliability and power density of gearboxes.
Material and Process Innovation
-Xinqianglian has made breakthroughs in the field of gearbox precision bearings, completing the delivery of gearbox bearing prototypes and passing bench tests in 2024, and adopting soft-belt-less induction quenching technology to reduce costs by 30%, with plans to achieve mass production in 2025.
Changsheng Bearing's **‘Sliding instead of rolling’ technology **is applied in wind power gearboxes, replacing traditional rolling bearings with sliding bearings to reduce the cost of ultra-high-power gearboxes and improve operational efficiency.
Second, market demand and industry trends
Offshore wind power drive gearbox demand growth
-Global offshore wind power installed capacity is expanding rapidly, driving the growth of high-power gearbox market.
-National Energy Administration ‘2025 Energy Work Guidelines’ clearly support the development of offshore wind power projects, it is expected that the domestic offshore wind power installed capacity will reach 124GW in 2025.
-The SG14-236 14MW unit supplied by Siemens Gamesa for Taiwan's Great Changhua offshore wind farm has a gearbox design adapted to complex sea conditions, with a single machine sweeping an area of 43,000 square metres.
Competition and integration of direct drive and gearbox technologies
-Direct-drive technology has increased its share in low-wind and offshore scenarios, but gearboxes still dominate the market by virtue of their cost advantage.
-Global high-speed gearbox market size is expected to grow from $1.68 billion in 2024 to $3.09 billion in 2031, at a CAGR of 9.1%, with the power sector accounting for 42%.
The semi-direct-drive gearbox launched by Venable Pole has won three industry awards for its integrated design that reduces the weight of generators by 30-40%, taking into account both efficiency and reliability.
Accelerated domestic substitution
Domestic enterprises are gradually replacing imports in the high-end market.
-The localisation rate of Xinqianglian's gearbox bearings is less than 30%, but through the accumulation of technology, it is expected to achieve revenue of RMB 240 million in 2025 and increase to RMB 600 million in 2026.
-The global market share of South High Gear's wind power main gearboxes reaches 23.4%, with products ranging from 1.5MW to 20+MW, and has passed international certifications such as DNV and UL.
Policy and industry chain support
Policies to promote industry norms and upgrading
The National Energy Administration requires new wind turbine key components (including gearboxes) to pass type certification, forcing quality improvement. Henan Province, ‘accelerate the manufacturing industry’ six new ‘breakthrough implementation programme’ clearly support the research and development of large-capacity offshore wind turbine gearboxes, to enhance the supporting level.
In addition, the decommissioning of wind power equipment recycling policy to encourage gearboxes and other high-value parts remanufacturing, reduce resource waste.
Industry chain synergy and after-sales service market expansion
-Goldwind and Shuanghuan Transmission established a joint venture, Huihuan Transmission, to build a gearbox full life cycle service platform, integrating forward R&D and data intelligence technology to provide fault diagnosis, repair solutions and intelligent operation and maintenance.
-China Resources New Energy Dongti Wind Farm signed a gearbox maintenance project with Siemens Gamesa, covering the O&M demand from 2025-2027.
Challenges and Future Direction
Technical Challenges
-Gearbox reliability in extreme environments (e.g. sandy deserts, high altitude) is still a challenge, requiring further optimisation of materials and sealing technology.
-In addition, the preventive maintenance system for gearbox bearing failure (such as fatigue rupture and corrosion) needs to be improved, and enterprises need to strengthen condition monitoring and spare parts management.
Cost and efficiency balance
-The cost pressure of electricity drives gearboxes to be lightweight and modular.
-The fully integrated drive chain design of Venable Pole improves the power density and reduces the cost of the whole machine; the SMG standard products of South High Gear shorten the development cycle and optimise the cost.
Green Manufacturing and Circular Economy
-Gearbox remanufacturing technology (such as gear grinding and repair, component recycling) will become the focus of the industry, policy support and market demand to promote the transformation of the industry chain to a circular economy.
Summary
-In 2024-2025, the wind power gearbox industry will show the development trend of high power, intelligence and localisation under the multiple driving force of technological innovation, market demand and policy support.
-Domestic enterprises through technological breakthroughs and industry chain synergies, and gradually occupy a place in the global high-end market, at the same time, policy norms and green manufacturing requirements will further promote the industry to improve quality and efficiency.
In the future, gearbox technology will continue to complement the development of direct-drive, semi-direct-drive and other programmes, providing core support for the sustainable growth of the global wind power industry.
Henan Bocheng International trade Co.，LTD
