Accelerating the Construction of the "Three Chains" of Marine Energy and Promoting Integrated Innovation: Injecting Blue Momentum into China's Modernization —A Special Commentary on Studying and Impl
Accelerating the Construction of the "Three Chains" of Marine Energy and Promoting Integrated Innovation: Injecting Blue Momentum into China's Modernization
—A Special Commentary on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the State Council Executive Meeting
■ Xin Wen, Jian Fei, Shi Zhong, Guang Hua
On April 24, 2026, the State Council Executive Meeting for the first time explicitly included marine energy in the scope of emerging marine industries, making an important deployment to cultivate emerging industrial clusters and build a modern marine industrial system. This is a key measure for the country to thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on "strengthening the nation through the sea" and "five more focuses" during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. It is a strategic arrangement for coordinating the development of the marine economy, ensuring national energy security, and promoting green and low-carbon transformation. It marks a new stage in my country's marine energy industry, moving from initial scale to comprehensive quality improvement, systemic leapfrogging, and cluster development, providing direction, guidance, and strong impetus for the high-quality development of marine energy during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Marine energy, as a systemic industrial concept, was first proposed and continuously improved by experts from the Marine Energy and Equipment Construction Branch of the China Pacific Society. In 2019, Professor Zhang Dongjiang and other experts from the branch, based on the global trend of energy development towards the ocean and the foundation of my country's marine energy industry, clearly defined the theoretical connotation of marine energy: relying on various energy forms existing in the sea and on the seabed and the entire process of their development and utilization, it is not only an objective energy existence, but also a complex labor creation process, and an organic integration of value chain, industrial chain, and supply chain. They also refined five core characteristics of the marine energy industry: coordinated development of marine oil and gas and marine new energy; deep integration of energy development and utilization with marine equipment manufacturing; artificial intelligence and digital empowerment; two-way conversion of military and civilian technologies; and integrated land-sea layout. This theoretical innovation and characteristic summary provided important theoretical support and practical guidance for the construction of the "three chains" of marine energy, the optimization of industrial layout, and breakthroughs in key technologies during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and also provided academic basis for the country to position marine energy as a strategic emerging industry.
The State Council executive meeting recently listed marine energy as an important component of the national emerging industry cluster, clearly outlining specific requirements such as strengthening marine science and technology innovation, enhancing ecological restoration in key sea areas, and promoting integrated industrial development. This has greatly stimulated the enthusiasm and creativity of researchers, producers, and managers in the marine energy field, accelerating the maturation and improvement of the marine energy industry ecosystem. It is poised to rapidly grow into a crucial strategic emerging industry supporting national energy security, serving the energy revolution, and promoting Chinese-style modernization during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, continuously releasing blue energy for national development.
I. Embracing the Mission of the Times, Anchoring the New Coordinates for Maritime Power in the 15th Five-Year Plan
Since its establishment in 2018, the Marine Energy and Equipment Construction Branch of the China Pacific Society has consistently focused on promoting the construction of the marine energy value chain, industrial chain, and supply chain, and facilitating the integration and innovation of marine energy and marine equipment manufacturing as its core mission. It fully leverages its role as a "bridge" and "link" across industries, fields, military and civilian sectors, and industry-academia-research collaborations. The branch brings together a high-level expert team led by academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. It spearheads or jointly undertakes numerous national-level tasks, including major projects under the National Five-Year Plan, major projects funded by the National Social Science Fund, key national research and development programs, and key strategic consulting projects of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. It is the most dynamic, innovative, and professionally influential national-level academic organization in my country's marine energy field.
The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a crucial five years for my country to accelerate the construction of a maritime power, deepen the energy revolution, and plan and construct a new energy system. It is also a strategic opportunity period for the marine energy industry to achieve large-scale, high-end, and international development. The branch will firmly grasp the national strategic direction, closely follow the deployment requirements of the 15th Five-Year Plan regarding the development of the marine economy, strengthening the protection and utilization of marine resources, improving marine science and technology, and ensuring energy security. It will adhere to a systematic approach and innovation-driven development, deeply integrate industry, academia, research, and application, and emphasize both theoretical innovation and practical exploration. It will accurately position itself and proactively contribute to serving the national strategy of "strengthening the nation through the sea," striving to promote the high-quality development of the marine energy industry and contributing professional strength to the construction of a maritime power.
II. Deepening Theoretical Practice to Empower the Ecosystem-wide Leap Forward of the Marine Energy Industry
Based on the threefold connotation of marine energy—"objective existence, labor process, and three-chain integration"—the branch has consistently adhered to a two-pronged approach of theoretical innovation and practical breakthroughs, guiding practice with theory and enriching theory with practice, and consistently serving the construction of the modern marine industry system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
First, strengthening value creation and building a diversified and collaborative marine energy matrix. The branch promotes the coordinated and complementary development of traditional marine oil and gas with new energy sources such as offshore wind power, tidal energy, wave energy, and seawater-to-hydrogen, accelerating the formation of a stable, reliable, green, low-carbon, and structurally optimized marine energy supply system. The stable production and supply of my country's "Deep Sea One" ultra-deepwater gas field and the fact that its offshore wind power installed capacity ranks first globally are concentrated manifestations of the value creation capabilities of marine energy. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the branch will further improve the collaborative network of industry, academia, research, and application, effectively operate the China Marine Energy and Equipment Network, streamline the chain of technology research and development, achievement transformation, engineering application, and market promotion, continuously optimize the value creation process, and improve the efficiency and economic benefits of comprehensive marine energy development.
Second, improving the industrial ecosystem and addressing shortcomings in the standard system. To implement the State Council's executive meeting's deployment to "strengthen marine science and technology innovation," the branch, relying on the pre-research results of the general standard system for marine energy (engineering), and in conjunction with the National Marine Standards and Metrology Center, the National Marine Technology Center, the China Classification Society, China Power Construction Corporation, China Energy Engineering Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and China Communications Construction Company, is accelerating the development of key standards for marine energy safety, quality, environmental protection, ecology, and regional comprehensive planning. This aims to fill gaps in industry standards, guide the modernization and standardization of the industrial chain and supply chain through standardization, and provide solid technical support and institutional guarantees for the healthy development of the marine energy industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
III. Emphasizing Integrated Innovation to Create a New Pattern of Collaborative Development of the "Three Chains"
The core logic of the development of the marine energy industry is the deep integration and collaborative upgrading of the value chain, industrial chain, and supply chain. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the branch will focus on key links and core technologies to promote the marine energy industry towards clustering, high-end development, intelligence, and greening.
Firstly, it will promote the upgrading of marine energy equipment manufacturing. Closely aligning with the national requirements for the digital and intelligent transformation of manufacturing, the association will assist marine energy exploration and development equipment, deep-sea and ocean-going maintenance equipment, and island energy equipment in moving towards intelligence, large-scale production, and domestic production. It will overcome the "bottleneck" problems of key components and core equipment, improve the level of independent control over equipment, and support the extension of marine energy development to the deep sea, open sea, and uninhabited islands and reefs.
Second, it will strengthen the empowerment of the entire artificial intelligence chain. Relying on the innovation network and cooperation platform built by the branch, it will promote the large-scale application of digital technologies such as AI big data models, big data, and the Internet of Things in scenarios such as marine energy resource exploration, production and operation, safety monitoring, and risk early warning. It will assist member units in quickly implementing intelligent solutions, empowering the entire industrial chain with digital technology to improve quality and efficiency, reduce costs and carbon emissions, and accelerate the cultivation of new marine productivity.
IV. Strengthen platform support and build an open and collaborative industrial community
Focusing on the needs of the "three chains" construction of marine energy during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the branch will continue to build three major support platforms, uniting the efforts of government, enterprises, universities, and research institutes to build an open, shared, and collaborative innovation industrial ecosystem.
First, it will build an international open cooperation platform. The conference will continue to amplify the impact of the "Qingdao Initiative" from the 2nd Marine Energy Conference in 2025, focusing on cutting-edge technology fields such as unmanned island and reef energy systems, seawater hydrogen production, deep-sea wind power, and coupled development of marine energy. It will deepen domestic and international exchanges and cooperation, expand new spaces for the open development of the marine energy industry, and enhance my country's international influence in the marine energy sector.
Secondly, it will establish a standardization leadership platform. Under the guidance of ministries such as the Department of Science and Technology Development of the Ministry of Natural Resources, it will accelerate the research and compilation of a standard system covering four dimensions: safety, environmental protection, ecology, and planning for marine energy engineering. Simultaneously, it will conduct standard dissemination and expert training to guide the standardized development, technological upgrading, and international alignment of the industry, serving the modernization of national marine governance.
Thirdly, it will build a professional talent training platform. It will continue to run the National Advanced Training Course on Marine New Energy Industry Development and Marine Use Policies and Cutting-Edge Technologies, optimizing the curriculum system, strengthening the cultivation of "three-chain" integrated thinking, interdisciplinary capabilities, and practical skills, and accelerating the creation of a composite marine energy talent team. At the same time, it will leverage the talent and professional advantages of its branches to serve the construction of the Hainan International Education Innovation Experimental Zone and the Free Trade Island, providing intellectual support for the development of the local marine economy.
V. Focusing on Key Breakthroughs to Cultivate New Marine Productivity
Closely adhering to the goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the deployment of the State Council's executive meeting, the branch focuses on key breakthroughs in three major areas, using technological innovation as the core engine, to create new advantages for marine energy development.
First, innovating systems and mechanisms to strengthen policy and financial support. Constructing a coordinated support system of "fiscal-financial-insurance," exploring new models such as marine renewable energy subsidies, green credit, and marine energy insurance, reducing industrial development risks, and stimulating the endogenous driving force for the coordinated development of the "three chains" (financial, industrial, and supply chains).
Second, prioritizing ecology and promoting green and integrated development. Strictly implementing the requirements for ecological restoration in key sea areas, innovating integrated development models such as "offshore wind power + ecological aquaculture" and "marine energy + tourism," achieving the organic unity of energy development, ecological protection, and economic growth, and practicing the concept of green development.
Third, deepening military-civilian integration to enhance security capabilities. Promoting the transformation and application of dual-use technologies in marine energy equipment, island energy security, and marine observation and monitoring, strengthening the security and controllability of key infrastructure, and enhancing the comprehensive competitiveness of the industry and national security capabilities.
A long journey lies ahead, the wind is strong, and the responsibilities are heavy, so we set off again. The strategic deployment of the State Council's executive meeting has pointed out the direction and provided a guide for the development of the marine energy industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The Marine Energy and Equipment Construction Branch of the China Pacific Society will always bear its mission in mind and live up to the trust placed in it, continuously deepening the theoretical research and practical exploration of the "three chains" of marine energy. Guided by technological innovation, driven by industrial integration, and propelled by open collaboration, we will fully serve the implementation of the national 15th Five-Year Plan, accelerate the construction of a modern marine energy industry system, and contribute greater wisdom and strength to building a maritime power, ensuring national energy security, promoting green and low-carbon development, and comprehensively advancing Chinese-style modernization!
