German utility EnBW has opened a representative office in Taiwan as part of plans to develop up to 2GW of offshore wind projects off the coast of the Asian island.
The company said it has assembled an 11-member team in Taipei which will work closely with EnBW’s offshore office in Hamburg.
“The local team ensures proximity and short routes to cooperation partners in the area, approval authorities and potential local suppliers,” EnBW said.
EnBW head in Taiwan Markus Wild (pictured, centre) said: “Like Germany, Taiwan is undergoing a major transformation of its energy sector and working on an ‘Energiewende’ of its own. This makes Taiwan an important target market for us in the region.”
EnBW chief technical officer Hans-josef Zimmer said: “Taiwan is a strategically important market for us. That’s why we are very pleased to be advancing offshore wind projects from our own office in Taipei now.”
In February 2018, the German company acquired a 37.5% stake in three offshore wind project developments in Taiwan, with Australian investor Macquarie Capital and local outfit Swancor Renewable the other participants.
EnBW said the partners are preparing the projects, including Formosa 3, for the third offshore auction in Taiwan planned for later this year.
Meanwhile, the company’s North American business unit has joined Clean Energy New Hampshire, the first company involved in offshore wind to join the organisation.
EnBW North America managing director Bill White said: “EnBW North America is excited to partner with Clean Energy New Hampshire to explore the role offshore wind can plan in generating affordable clean energy for New Hampshire.
“We are encouraged by the keen interest governor Sununu and the New Hampshire legislature have shown in examining the potential for developing wind power off the New Hampshire coast and we’re eager to bring to this conversation our expertise as an experienced offshore wind developer.”