Intelligent Production of Wind Turbine Bearings Drives Worldwide Clean Energy Growth

Amidst the steady growth of global wind power installations, the high-end equipment manufacturing industry in southwest China is demonstrating strong capabilities. Chengdu's bearing products are deeply integrated into the global wind power industry chain. Industry data shows that one out of every three new wind turbines added worldwide is equipped with bearing components developed or produced in Chengdu.

This statistic is no accident. In recent years, Chengdu has leveraged its industrial foundation in rail transit, precision manufacturing, and new materials to gradually build a comprehensive wind turbine bearing industry system encompassing R&D, materials, processing, and testing. By combining technology imports with independent innovation, numerous local companies have overcome key technical bottlenecks in large-size bearing design, long-life material heat treatment, and precision grinding processes.

Chengdu Tianma Precision Machinery Co., Ltd., one of the earliest companies in China to enter the wind turbine bearing market, has established a specialized production base in Xindu District. Its main shaft bearings and gearbox bearings have been certified by several major international OEMs and are now used in large quantities in onshore and offshore wind turbines. CRRC Chengdu, leveraging its expertise in high-speed, heavy-load bearings, has successfully transferred this expertise to the new energy equipment sector, developing new wind turbine bearing solutions suitable for complex operating conditions. It's worth noting that Chengdu isn't traditionally a major bearing industry hub, but through precise industrial planning and sustained R&D investment, it has rapidly filled the gap in domestically produced high-end wind turbine bearings. The local government has prioritized the development of core components for new energy, supporting companies in establishing joint laboratories with universities such as Southwest Jiaotong University and Sichuan University to advance key common technology research.

Statistics released by the Wind Energy Committee of the China Renewable Energy Society indicate that by 2023, approximately 32% to 35% of new wind turbine capacity globally will utilize main shaft, yaw, or pitch bearings supplied by Chengdu companies. This proportion is even higher for new domestic projects, with some leading complete equipment manufacturers boasting a local supply chain ratio exceeding 40%.

"From reliance on imports to mass exports, Chengdu's breakthrough in bearings reflects the increasing autonomy of China's new energy supply chain," said an industry analyst who closely monitors the equipment manufacturing industry. With the continuous increase in unit power and accelerated overseas market expansion, Chengdu companies are accelerating the development of ultra-large bearings suitable for units over 10 MW and strengthening their technical capabilities in reliability verification and lifespan prediction.

Today, from the grasslands of Inner Mongolia to the coast of the Baltic Sea, from wind farms in the Gobi Desert to the plateaus of South America, more and more wind turbines are running with core components made in Chengdu. This western city is carving its own coordinates in the global green energy map with its solid technological accumulation.