Denmark-based LM Wind Power (www.lmwindpower.com) is to expand its Jiangyin factory in Jiangsu by 50% and develop a 71.8m blade for Chinese manufacturer Envision’s new 4.5MW wind turbine platform.

The first blade should be ready for installation off the north China coast in the first half of 2018.

LM vice-president Alexis Crama said: “The Chinese offshore wind market is expected to grow on average by 40% annually for the next five years.

"LM Wind Power has been part of this journey since the very beginning, and we are investing significantly in new product development and technologies for the Chinese market.”