Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and China Steel Corporationhave achieved a significant milestone by generating first power from their 300-MW Zhong Neng wind farm off the coast of Changhua County, Taiwan. The Danish infrastructure investor CIP, holding a 49% stake through its Copenhagen Infrastructure IV fund, partners with China Steel, which holds the majority 51% stake.
According to CIP's announcement on Wednesday, this achievement marks a crucial advancement towards the scheduled completion of the Zhong Neng project later in 2024.
The wind farm, adjacent to CIP's majority-owned Changfang-Xidao offshore complex, received grid allocation in 2018 and secured a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Taiwan Power Company in 2019. The project's local content plan was approved by the Taiwanese government in November 2019.
In May, the first turbine was erected, with plans to install the remaining Vestas 174-9.6MW turbines by the third quarter of 2024. Once fully operational, the 31-turbine park aims to connect to the grid by the end of this year, generating sufficient annual output to power approximately 300,000 local homes.
The successful progress of the Zhong Neng wind farm underscores CIP and China Steel's commitment to advancing Taiwan's renewable energy goals and strengthening offshore wind capabilities in the region.