Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) was named preferred supplier today (October 22) by customer Ørsted for its 900 MW Greater Changhua offshore wind power projects in Taiwan.

The project includes approximately 112 units of the Asia-Pacific variant of the SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbine and a Service agreement. Subject to the agreement becoming a final contract, Siemens Gamesa will establish a nacelle assembly facility near Taichung Harbor. The facility is expected to be ready by 2021, ahead of the local content creation timeline as set by the Taiwanese government.

Wind turbine towers for the projects will be supplied locally through the partnership between CS Wind and Chin Fong in Taiwan, meeting the official requirements for local content on wind turbine components. Offshore construction for the projects is to begin in 2021.

“We are proud that Ørsted has selected us as the preferred supplier for these important projects in Taiwan, and look forward to it becoming a confirmed order according to the current plans. Greater Changhua represents an extremely significant leap forward for SGRE in Taiwan. It will enable us to establish a nacelle assembly facility in Taichung Harbor by 2021 upon Ørsted’s request, and ahead of local content requirements as set by the Taiwanese government,” said Andreas Nauen, CEO of the Offshore Business Unit in Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

The SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbine variant for Asia-Pacific markets addresses local conditions across the region. It ensures that the SG 8.0-167 DD is tailored to meet local codes and standards regarding typhoons, seismic activities, 60 Hertz operation, as well as operation in high and low ambient temperatures.

It has a rated capacity of 8.0 megawatts (MW), and a rotor with a 167-meter diameter. It has a swept area of 21,900 sq m, and utilizes the SGRE B81 blades, each measuring 81.4 meters. By 2020, more than 1,000 SGRE Direct Drive offshore wind turbines will be installed globally.

“Securing this preferred supplier agreement with Ørsted proves that our technology and business commitment fit extremely well with the Taiwanese offshore wind industry and the government’s commendable plans. We’re creating workplaces in the short-, medium-, and long-term, and contributing to the positive growth story of renewable energy in the market,” said Niels Steenberg, executive general manager of Siemens Gamesa Offshore for Asia-Pacific.

Matthias Bausenwein, Ørsted’s general manager for Asia Pacific, said: “Building large-scale wind farms in the offshore conditions of the Taiwan straits is a new journey for Ørsted. We’re delighted to work with our experienced partner Siemens Gamesa in adopting a typhoon-proof technology for our Greater Changhua offshore wind farms. SGRE’s mature localisation plan was a key reason for selecting them as our preferred turbine supplier.” – TradeArabia News Service