MHI Vestas has confirmed a purchase agreement with Swancor to source several key blade manufacturing components locally.
The scope of the Swancor contract goes beyond local requirements for blade materials and covers a significant percentage of the direct materials value of overall blade manufacturing, including carbon tow, carbon pultrusion, resin, and bonding glue.
“This contract strengthens Swancor’s presence in the offshore wind sector, and will deliver substantial value to the Taiwanese economy through knowledge sharing, jobs and direct investment,” MHI Vestas said in a statement.
This is the second purchase agreement signed by MHI Vestas related to blade production in Taiwan, following the selection of Tien Li Offshore Wind Technology to manufacture blades in a new facility to be built near Taichung Harbour.
“The addition of Swancor to our local suppliers is a significant boost to our ambitions in Taiwan,” said MHI Vestas Taiwan business director, Maida Zahirovic.
“The local supply chain is currently under development in Taiwan, and we are pleased to support an established group such as Swancor broaden their presence in the offshore wind sector. We look forward to working together to create long-term Taiwanese jobs,” she added.
MHI Vestas has been awarded firm contracts for the Changfang and Xidao projects developed by CIP (total combined capacity of 589MW), as well as preferred supplier status for the 300MW Zhong Neng project developed by CSC and CIP.
Swancor chairman Robert Tsai said: “We are honoured to sign the purchase agreement with world-renowned offshore wind turbine manufacturers MHI Vestas, including infusion resins, bonding glues, pultruded carbon plates, to become an international wind turbine blade material supplier of MHI Vestas. We aim to continue to expand further cooperation with MHI Vestas in the global market.”
The new Swancor contract will support up to 570 jobs in blade material provision to Taiwan between 2020 and 2025, according to research firm BVG Associates.
Additionally, up to NT$850m in economic value will be added to the Taiwanese economy from blade material production and induced value, BVG said.