Taiwanese state-run energy company Taiwan Power (Taipower) has launched a new subsidiary, which will focus on developing offshore wind turbines, as part of its plan to increase renewable energy production.
Based at Taichung Power Plant in central Taiwan, the new unit, named Offshore Wind Power Construction Office, was launched as part of the company’s plan to have 1GW of installed renewable generation capacity by 2025.
In addition to installing offshore wind turbines, the subsidiary will focus on building a set of skills in marine engineering technologies, environmental protection and other key areas of expertise for the sector.
Taipower chairman Chu Wen-chen was quoted by Taiwan Today as saying: “This specialized unit has been formed not just to install wind turbines for electricity generation, but to accumulate related skills and experience.”
Taiwanese government earlier announced its plan to shift its focus towards developing renewable power while eliminating the use of nuclear energy.
As part of this effort, the government intends to generate 20% of its total power from renewable sources by 2025.
Meanwhile, Taipower is planning to commission the first phase of an offshore turbine project located in the waters west of central Taiwan’s Changhua County in June 2020.
Estimated to cost $616.8m, the 110MW initial phase of the project is expected to generate 360 million kilowatt-hours of power annually.
Danish consultancy Niras and Sinotech will be responsible for the basic design, tendering, review of detailed design and construction supervision for the proposed offshore wind project, reported SeeNews Renewables.