Sinovel
A Chinese wind-turbine manufacturer known for large-scale onshore and offshore wind-power equipment.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Sinovel, also known as Sinovel Wind Group Company, is a Chinese wind-power equipment manufacturer headquartered in Beijing. The company was established in 2005 by Han Junliang with initial capital supplied by Dalian Heavy Mechanical & Electrical Equipment Engineering, a Chinese state-owned industrial enterprise with which Sinovel has been affiliated. Its business has centered on the design, manufacture, sale, and servicing of large wind turbines and related wind-power systems. Sinovel expanded during the rapid development of China's wind industry in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The company became one of China's most prominent wind-turbine manufacturers and developed equipment for both onshore and offshore projects. Its portfolio included turbines in the 1.5-megawatt and 3-megawatt classes. A significant early reference project was the Donghai Bridge Wind Farm near Shanghai, described as China's first offshore wind farm. The project entered operation in July 2010 with 34 Sinovel 3 MW turbines, giving the company an important position in the emerging Chinese offshore-wind market. Sinovel also pursued international sales. In December 2010, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ordered a 1.5 MW Sinovel turbine for a wastewater-pumping facility in Charlestown, Boston. This installation demonstrated the company's effort to place its equipment in overseas infrastructure projects, although the company remained primarily associated with China's domestic wind-power build-out. The company became publicly traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2011. Its initial public offering raised approximately US$1.4 billion according to the cited reference material, and the listing made founder Han Junliang one of China's best-known wind-power entrepreneurs. Sinovel was subsequently associated with Dalian Heavy Mechanical & Electrical Equipment Engineering and with the subsidiary Dalian Guotong Electronics. Leadership changed over time; chairman Wang Yuan resigned in 2014. Sinovel's international reputation was severely affected by litigation and criminal proceedings involving American Superconductor Corporation, commonly known as AMSC. AMSC accused Sinovel of obtaining and using software and other proprietary information without authorization for wind-turbine control systems. In 2013, the United States Department of Justice charged Sinovel and three individuals with theft of trade secrets. In January 2018, a federal jury in Wisconsin found Sinovel guilty of stealing trade secrets and copyrighted information. The case concerned alleged efforts to develop substitute systems and retrofit existing turbines while avoiding payments to AMSC. AMSC stated in July 2018 that it had reached a settlement with Sinovel. The dispute became one of the most significant legal controversies associated with the Chinese wind-turbine industry. The available reference material does not establish Sinovel's current operating scale, ownership structure, leadership, product lineup, or market position. Accordingly, this dossier records the company's historical identity and documented activities while leaving current-status details unresolved.
History
Sinovel was founded in 2005 by Han Junliang with initial capital provided by Dalian Heavy Mechanical & Electrical Equipment Engineering, a Chinese state-owned industrial company. The new enterprise entered the wind-equipment market during a period of rapid expansion in China's renewable-energy sector. Its principal activity was the development and manufacture of large wind turbines for utility-scale projects. The company became an important participant in China's early offshore-wind industry. The Donghai Bridge Wind Farm, which began operation in July 2010, used 34 Sinovel turbines rated at 3 MW each. The project is described in the reference material as China's first offshore wind farm and provided Sinovel with a prominent domestic showcase for its large turbine technology. Sinovel's product range also included 1.5 MW-class turbines and related systems for onshore installations. Sinovel sought international business as well as domestic contracts. In December 2010, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ordered a 1.5 MW turbine for a wastewater-pumping station in Charlestown, Boston. This order represented an early overseas application of Sinovel equipment. The company subsequently became one of the best-known Chinese wind-turbine manufacturers during the industry's expansion. Sinovel went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2011, raising approximately US$1.4 billion according to the cited reference. The offering increased the company's visibility and helped establish founder Han Junliang as a prominent figure in China's wind-power sector. Sinovel was affiliated with Dalian Heavy Mechanical & Electrical Equipment Engineering and had a subsidiary called Dalian Guotong Electronics. The available material does not provide a complete account of later corporate restructuring, operating performance, or current management. It does record that chairman Wang Yuan resigned in 2014. The company's most consequential controversy involved American Superconductor Corporation, or AMSC. AMSC accused Sinovel of taking software and other proprietary material used in wind-turbine control systems. The allegations included using the information to create substitute systems and to retrofit turbines while avoiding payments to AMSC. On 27 June 2013, the United States Department of Justice charged Sinovel and three individuals with theft of trade secrets. On 24 January 2018, a federal jury in Madison, Wisconsin, found Sinovel guilty of stealing trade secrets and copyrighted information. The jury concluded that the conduct caused AMSC losses exceeding US$800 million, as reported in the reference material. In July 2018, AMSC announced that it had settled its civil lawsuit with Sinovel. The available references establish Sinovel's historical manufacturing role, major early projects, stock-market listing, leadership transition, and legal controversy, but do not adequately document its present-day commercial status or detailed current product portfolio. Those areas require further verification.
- 2018
Federal jury conviction and subsequent settlement
[1]A Wisconsin federal jury found Sinovel guilty in the AMSC case; AMSC later announced settlement of its civil lawsuit.
- 2013
U.S. trade-secrets charges
[1]The U.S. Department of Justice charged Sinovel and three individuals in connection with alleged theft of AMSC technology.
- 2011
Shanghai Stock Exchange listing
[1]Sinovel became a publicly traded company and reportedly raised approximately US$1.4 billion.
- 2010
Donghai Bridge offshore wind farm begins operation
[1]The project began operation with 34 Sinovel 3 MW turbines and became a major early reference installation for the company.
- 2010
First documented Massachusetts turbine order
[1]The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ordered a 1.5 MW turbine for a wastewater-pumping facility in Boston.
- 2005
Sinovel is founded
[1]Han Junliang founded Sinovel with initial capital supplied by Dalian Heavy Mechanical & Electrical Equipment Engineering.
Products and positioning
Large-scale wind-power equipment manufacturer serving utility-scale onshore and offshore projects.
Onshore wind turbines
1.5 MW wind turbines
Sinovel manufactured turbines in the 1.5 MW class for utility and infrastructure applications. One such turbine was ordered by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority in 2010 for a wastewater-pumping station in Charlestown, Boston, providing a documented overseas application of the company's equipment.
Offshore wind turbines
3 MW wind turbines
Sinovel's 3 MW turbines were deployed at the Donghai Bridge Wind Farm, where 34 units entered service in July 2010. The installation was a major early offshore-wind project in China and served as one of the company's most prominent documented technology references.
Controversies
2018
U.S. federal jury conviction
A federal jury in Madison, Wisconsin, found Sinovel guilty of stealing trade secrets and copyrighted information. The reference material states that the alleged conduct caused AMSC losses of more than US$800 million.
2018
Trade-secret criminal conviction and penalty in the United States, followed by settlement with AMSC
In 2018, a U.S. jury found Sinovel guilty of trade-secret crimes; the court later imposed a $1.5 million fine, and the company separately reached a settlement with AMSC, paying about $57.5 million. The fine and the commercial settlement are distinct amounts. This entry completes the original 2018 conviction record.
2013
AMSC trade-secrets case
American Superconductor Corporation accused Sinovel of taking software and other proprietary information used in wind-turbine control systems. The U.S. Department of Justice charged Sinovel and three individuals in June 2013.
Brand decisions
2011
Public-market financing through Shanghai listingStrategyBackground
Sinovel was expanding during China's rapid wind-power build-out and required capital for industrial growth.
Action taken
The company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and raised approximately US$1.4 billion, according to the cited reference.
Aftermath
The listing increased Sinovel's visibility and made founder Han Junliang a prominent figure in the Chinese wind industry.
Reported capital raised. Approximately US$1.4 billion (2011 initial public offering)
Recent events
- 2014
Sinovel chairman Wang Yuan resigns[1]
Leadership change
Wang Yuan resigned as chairman of Sinovel, according to the cited company history.
- 2011
Sinovel completes Shanghai Stock Exchange listing[1]
Other
Sinovel listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and raised approximately US$1.4 billion according to the cited reference material.
- 2010
Sinovel turbines begin operating at China's first offshore wind farm[1]
Product launch · Other
The Donghai Bridge Wind Farm began operation with 34 Sinovel 3 MW turbines, marking a major early offshore-wind deployment for the company and China.
- 2010
Massachusetts wastewater authority orders a Sinovel turbine[1]
Product launch · Other
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ordered a 1.5 MW Sinovel turbine for a wastewater-pumping station in Charlestown, Boston.
Sources4 sources
- 1Sinovel - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- 2Trade-secret criminal conviction and penalty in the United States, followed by settlement with AMSCswissinfo.ch
- 3Trade-secret criminal conviction and penalty in the United States, followed by settlement with AMSCcs.com.cn
- 4Trade-secret criminal conviction and penalty in the United States, followed by settlement with AMSCpaper.people.com.cn
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