Orsted has announced the results of the Offshore Wind Industrial Development Fund (IDF) that will see 10 Taiwanese companies receive funding to upgrade technologies for the offshore wind sector, while further money will go to training for over 170 people in Taiwan.
Ten local companies that are planning to become future offshore wind sub-suppliers have been awarded funds to upgrade their offshore wind technologies.
The Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, which is responsible for executing and managing the IDF, signed the contracts with the 10 selected companies today to kick off their researches for the next 12 to 18 months.
Moreover, a total of 92 local people will receive high-level welding training, while 80 individuals are to receive Global Wind Organization (GWO) safety training.
Two of the selected companies are from Changhua.
Data Surpass Technology is planning to upgrade its unmanned vehicle structure to weather more powerful waves at sea and advance its control system.
The company is also building a new facility in Hemei Township in Changhua County to test and assemble the unmanned vehicle and equipment.
Tai-Shing Engineering and Construction has recently tapped into the offshore wind sector, becoming a sub-supplier that produces pin piles and components for the foundations.
It will use the money from Orsted to develop the remote welding technology.
Orsted Taiwan general manager Christy Wang said: “Orsted is committed to supporting our suppliers in order to ramp up their capabilities and overcome manufacturing challenges.
“As for talent cultivation, many of the 92 people to receive welding training are from the current suppliers of the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farms.
“As to technologies localisation, we have seen Taiwan companies demonstrate their research and development capabilities.
“The selected projects not only can help strengthen local manufacturing as well as operations and maintenance capabilities, but also meet the needs to further offshore wind development in Taiwan and lay a solid foundation for the country to grow into the Asia-Pacific offshore wind export centre.”
Data Surpass Technology business manager Hung Kun-sheng said: “We are honoured to be awarded the Orsted’s Offshore Wind Industrial Development Fund.
“Due to weather constraints and sea conditions in the Taiwan Strait, only a limited number of days a year is suitable for conducting maritime survey.
“Our unmanned vehicle and seabed mapping technology can significantly reduce the manpower, time and cost required and increase the efficiency and precision of the maritime survey work, as opposed to the deployment of large survey vessel.”
Tai-Shing Engineering and Construction chairman representative James Wu finding high-level welders to consistently deliver the same high quality of welding is currently the biggest challenge most local foundation suppliers are facing.
He said: “It requires experienced welding technicians to properly adjust the welding material and the angle to deliver high quality results.
“Our company will use the fund provided by Orsted to develop the remote welding technology, similar to the robotic da Vinci Surgical System or gaming console Wii, which will provide instant feedback, such as vibration, to the one operating the machine.
“Welding technicians would then be able to perform the welding work remotely, watch the welding process on screen, while feeling the feedback from the robotic machines to make the necessary adjustments.
“This new technology will greatly improve the efficiency of the welding technicians and their work environment, as well as strengthen the welding quality and production capacity.”