China-led global standard for offshore wind power approved

A China-proposed international standard on offshore wind power has been officially approved by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), according to the country's standardization authorities.

The proposal marks the first IEC international standard in this field. Chinese experts are leading the project, with participation from counterparts in France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Offshore wind is a key pillar of global renewable energy development, while flexible direct current (DC) transmission has become a mainstream solution for delivering electricity from offshore wind farms. However, the lack of a unified international standard for harmonic assessment in this emerging "offshore wind + flexible DC" integration scenario has constrained industry development.

The newly approved standard aims to address this gap by incorporating global technological advances and engineering practices. It establishes a comprehensive framework for harmonic assessment across the entire life cycle of offshore wind projects, from planning and construction to operation.

By introducing unified technical benchmarks, the standard will help identify potential risks in early-stage development, ensure compliance during grid connection, and support fault diagnosis during operation.

Experts say the initiative will provide much-needed guidance for evaluating power quality in new grid integration scenarios, enhancing the safe operation of offshore wind projects worldwide and supporting the transition toward greener, low-carbon energy systems.