Taiwan sets up group to oversee offshore wind development

The Taiwan Offshore Wind Industry Association consists of both Taiwanese and foreign companies involved in the field.

An association comprising major stakeholders in Taiwan's offshore wind energy development has been set up to facilitate the long-term development of the industry, a report by the country’s news agency revealed.

The Taiwan Offshore Wind Industry Association, initiated by global semiconductor trade association SEMI, consists of both Taiwanese and foreign companies involved in the field in Taiwan. The foreign members include Swancor, Ørsted, Northland Power, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), wpd offshore solutions, Macquarie Group, and Japanese utility firm JERA.

According to SEMI CMO Terry Tsao, the association can represent the joint interests of offshore wind energy providers in Taiwan, as well as serve as a communications platform for the government, industry, academia and the public.

Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin highlighted how offshore wind power development was important to Taiwan to diversify its energy portfolio and reach energy independence, especially with the government pledging that 20% of Taiwan's power will come from renewable energy by 2025.

Also read: Japanese investors buy stake in 640MW Taiwan offshore wind project

According to the ministry, offshore wind power development could help reduce air pollution from thermal power plants and cut carbon emissions by 10 million metric tons per year by 2025.

Local authorities reduced the feed-in tariff (FIT) rate for offshore projects that sign power purchasing agreements with state-owned utility Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) in 2019 to $0.18 (NT$5.516) per kWh ,representing a 5.71%reduction from the 2018 rate of $0.19 (NT$5.849) per unit.

“That cut drew the ire of wind power developers, many of which are founding members of the association and currently involved in the 5.5GW-project,” the report said.

Also read: Taiwan to change up offshore wind reforms after backlash

The ministry reportedly intends to issue tenders for other deep-water wind farms to be developed from 2026 to 2030 with a combined capacity of 5GW by end-2019.