Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Yeong Guan Energy Technology Group to collaborate on the development of an offshore wind supply chain in Taiwan.
“The promising potential of the Taiwanese offshore market combined with our positive experience with the government has encouraged us to intensify our efforts. We are convinced that this emerging market offers interesting business opportunities,” states Andreas Nauen, CEO Offshore, Siemens Gamesa.
Under the terms of the non-binding MoU, Yeong Guan Energy Technology Group will be investigating the establishment of a foundry, machining and painting facilities at the Taichung Harbor in Taiwan. The choice location is the Taichung Harbor, close to Changhua County, off of which the majority of the zones defined by the Taiwanese government for offshore wind projects are found.
The deal comes after another MoU signed in December 2017, between Siemens Gamesa and Taiwan International Ports Corporation, to investigate possibilities for a potential manufacturing site, office facilities, and staging areas.
Currently, there are over 10 GW of projects under planning in Taiwan, which could make Taichung Harbor a regional hub for the offshore industry, according to Rainer Mueller-Wallenborn, Head of Offshore Procurement, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
Recently, the state’s EPA approved environmental impact studies for eight offshore wind projects. Three projects, with a combined capacity of 2GW, are planned for Changhua County, another project has been proposed by China Steel, and another four are planned off Changhua by Ørsted.
Siemens Gamesa installed Taiwan’s first offshore wind power plant, the 8 MW Formosa Phase 1 demonstration project, back in 2016.
