The Hai Long offshore wind project, off Taiwan, has received approval for its “Industrial Relevance Plan” following two years of negotiations.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA)’s Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) passed the plan, with notification given to the developer by the Bureau of Energy (BOE).
Hai Long project director Felipe Montero said: “We are deeply gratified to have heard the great news and will work to meet the conditions in our Industrial Relevance Plan.”
Throughout the “intense discussions and negotiations”, the Hai Long team worked closely with the government and domestic and foreign suppliers to understand and fulfil the government’s local content requests.
The team said it is grateful for the directions given by MOEA, BOE, IDB, Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) as well as for the many hours of negotiation put in by partners CSBC-DEME Wind Engineering (CDWE) and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to achieve the milestone.
Along with CDWE and Siemens Gamesa, with whom Hai Long signed Preferred Supplier Agreements in 2019, Hai Long Hai Long will work to implement the Industrial Relevance Plan, said the developer.
Hai Long entered into Taiwan’s first large-scale balance of plant Preferred Supplier Agreement with CDWE covering engineering, procurement, fabrication, and installation of the foundations, inter array cables, export cables and transportation and installation of the offshore substations and wind turbines.
On this basis, CDWE made its final investment decision on “Green Jade”, the first Taiwan-built multi-functional installation vessel for offshore wind.
The heavy-lifting vessel will feature a high-tech, 4000-tonne capacity crane and DP3 capability, which will be delivered in 2022 and be deployed for Hai Long offshore wind farms, marking an important milestone for the localization of Taiwan’s offshore wind industry.
Hai Long named Siemens Gamesa as preferred supplier to provide wind turbines and maintenance service for its 300MW Hai Long 2A offshore wind power plant. The SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbine, one of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines reaching a staggering minimum of 247-metre tip height above sea level, will be deployed.
The project will use Siemens Gamesa’s expanded nacelle assembly factory in Taichung harbour, planned to supply both the domestic offshore wind market and the APAC region.
Montero added: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the Taiwanese government and all relevant parties, making it possible to receive the approval of our localisation plan.
“We will now continue working with the Taiwanese government, local suppliers and our two main contractors CDWE and Siemens Gamesa, focusing on the delivery of this localisation plan and with the objective of building a sustainable offshore wind industry and supply chain here in Taiwan, that can also compete internationally.”