Taiwanese firm plans to produce offshore wind turbines

Taipei-based TECO Electric is planning to manufacture offshore wind turbine prototypes for deployment in Taiwan from 2025.

TECO Electric has signed cooperation agreements with developers and permanent magnet manufacturers with the intention to seize the business opportunities offered by offshore wind development in Taiwan. No further details of the signatories were disclosed.

According to Windpower Intelligence, the data and research division of Windpower Monthly, Taiwan has a pipeline of 22 offshore wind projects representing more than 13GW of capacity currently under development. Confirmed turbine purchase agreements are in place for less than 2GW of this planned capacity. 

TECO said it successfully installed a 2MW wind turbine in Inner Mongolia, China in 2010, and has a track record in substations and remote monitoring systems.

Alongside the usual offshore wind turbine challenges of easier maintenance and higher reliability, TECO stated its prototype must also be able to dissipate heat, which is a priority in Taiwan. The company is also targeting the substations and operations and maintenance markets for Taiwan’s offshore wind sector. 

If the offshore wind turbine prototype is successful in Taiwan, TECO plans to enter nearby Asia Pacific and south-east Asia territories including Japan and South Korea.