Orsted has commenced offshore construction for its Greater Changhua 2b and 4 wind farms off the coast of Taiwan, a key step in the company's renewable energy strategy in the region.
The two offshore wind farms, located 35-60 km from Changhua County, Taiwan, were awarded to Orsted in June 2018. In 2020, the company secured a 20-year fixed-price corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) for the full production of the wind farms with a corporate customer.
Per Mejnert Kristensen, President of Orsted's APAC region, highlighted the significance of the project, stating: “The commencement of offshore construction for the Greater Changhua 2b and 4 demonstrates Orsted's unwavering commitment to developing, constructing, and operating large-scale offshore wind farms in Taiwan.”
He added: “As the first offshore wind farms in Taiwan backed by a CPPA, they not only demonstrate the confidence our customer and the market have in Orsted's industry-leading technical expertise and extensive experience but also set a significant benchmark for long-term partnerships between businesses and the industry for renewable energy as well as the vital role of offshore wind in building a low-carbon economy.”
Since its final investment decision in March 2023, Orsted has been making progress on the project, including manufacturing key components, completing civil work for the onshore substation, and mobilizing vessels for offshore construction.
The Greater Changhua 2b and 4 wind farms, which will feature 66 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each with a 14 MW capacity, are expected to complete offshore installation by the end of 2025 and be fully connected to the grid by 2026.
Once operational, the wind farms will add nearly 2GW of offshore wind capacity for Orsted in Taiwan, enough to power two million Taiwanese households. With this addition, Orsted will have nearly 10GW of operational offshore wind capacity across three continents, alongside an additional 8.4GW under construction.
