China's offshore wind power sector is expected to see massive growth this year, but the country still has a long way to go if it is to achieve its 2015 target, industry watchers said.<br /> <br /> Projects set to launch this year are expected to add 1,566 MW of capacity, or more than three times the national total as of the end of 2013, according to a report released by the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association on July 2.<br /> <br /> The country's offshore wind capacity was 428.6 MW at the end of 2013, less than a tenth of the government's 5,000 MW target for 2015.<br /> <br /> In a bid to boost investment, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) last month released a long-awaited pricing scheme for offshore wind power projects.<br /> <br /> "The pricing scheme for offshore wind power unveiled last month provided a stimulus for the sector, but there are still challenges in terms of technology, management and policy if China is to achieve its 2015 goal," said Yi Yuechun, deputy chief engineer of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute.<br /> <br /> The country's offshore wind sector is still in its infancy, with immature technologies in the areas of surveying, construction and installation, Yi said at the Offshore Wind China Conference &amp; Exhibition on July 2.<br /> <br /> Furthermore, inconsistent management standards among different maritime departments led to extended project cycles, added Yi.<br /> <br /> <p> Wang Zhongying, deputy director of the Energy Research Institute under the NDRC, said that it's more urgent for the regulator to figure out an overall plan and related rules for ocean exploitation so that investors can better plan their projects.&nbsp; </p> <p style="text-align:center;"> <img src="/upfiles/news/image/20140709/20140709173110_2977.jpg" alt="" /> </p>