Ørsted inaugurates Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms in Taiwan
Ørsted, a Danish energy company, marked a significant milestone in renewable energy development by inaugurating the Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms in Taiwan. This event not only adds 900 MW of wind power to the region’s grid but also positions these facilities as the largest of their kind in both Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Hosted at Ørsted’s operations and maintenance hub at the Port of Taichung, the ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and key stakeholders such as Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Cathay Private Equity (Cathay PE).
Catalyzing Taiwan’s Offshore Wind Ecosystem
The operation of the Greater Changhua 1 and 2a wind farms has effectively doubled Taiwan’s offshore wind capacity, playing a crucial role in the country’s energy transition and efforts to achieve net-zero goals. These projects are a testament to Taiwan’s commitment to enhancing its renewable energy infrastructure and reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.
Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO of Ørsted, highlighted the significance of these projects, stating, “Greater Changhua 1 and 2a are our first gigawatt-scale offshore wind farms outside of Europe. They’re also Taiwan’s first utility-scale far-shore wind farms and the largest of their kind in APAC, reaffirming Taiwan as the frontrunner in the region.”
Development and Impact
The Greater Changhua wind farms have been in development since March 2021, with the recent completion of 111 Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbines now feeding renewable energy into Taiwan’s electricity grid. The 605.2 MW Greater Changhua 1 wind farm is jointly owned by Ørsted (50%) and Mercury Taiwan Holdings—a consortium of CDPQ and Cathay PE (50%). Meanwhile, the 294.8 MW Greater Changhua 2a is wholly owned by Ørsted.
Per Mejnert Kristensen, CEO of Region APAC at Ørsted, expressed his gratitude for the collaborative efforts that brought the project to fruition, “This project has spearheaded the establishment of the local offshore wind industry and contributed significantly to Taiwan’s energy transition and net-zero goals.”
Future Projects and Commitments
Looking ahead, Ørsted is not slowing down. The company is already underway with the construction of the next phase in its Taiwanese projects—the 920 MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms. Together with the existing Formosa 1 wind farm, Ørsted’s portfolio in Taiwan will soon approach nearly 2 GW of offshore wind capacity.
The inauguration of the Greater Changhua 1 and 2a wind farms represents a pivotal moment for Taiwan and the broader APAC region’s renewable energy landscape. By significantly boosting Taiwan’s renewable energy capacity, Ørsted is not only contributing to regional energy security but also setting a benchmark for other nations in Asia looking to escalate their renewable energy efforts.