Seajacks to install Siemens Gamesa turbines in Taiwan
Seajacks has won a contract from Siemens Gamesa to install its 6MW turbines at phase 2 of the 120MW Formosa 1 offshore wind farm in Taiwan, the Company said in a press release.
The award is the first time the Great Yarmouth-based company has won a renewables contract outside of Europe.
Seajacks Zaratan will site all 20 SWT-6.0-154 wind turbines in the Taiwan Strait, with the 10,000-tonne jack-up vessel scheduled to begin work in the second quarter of 2019.
“This exciting contract award announces the arrival of Seajacks as a global player in offshore wind farm installation and it builds on our years of experience in Europe,” said Seajacks Chairman, Soichi Inoue.
“It is also a very exciting time for Taiwan and we’re delighted to be playing a part in delivering the country’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm.
“Zaratan has proven to be a tried and trusted platform for innovative projects like this in harsh environments. We’re looking forward to working in partnership with Siemens Gamesa and Formosa’s owners to bring offshore wind power to Taiwan and show once again what we can do.”
Siemens Gamesa Executive General Manager APAC Niels Steenberg added: “We welcome Seajacks bringing a suitable vessel to Taiwan as one of the first suppliers, relieving one of the bottlenecks for utility scale offshore wind in the region. We expect more to follow, now that the Taiwanese pipeline until 2024 is clear, creating a healthy and sustainable market”
Seajacks will be installing the turbines for the Macquarie Capital, Ørsted and Swancor-owned project in around 30 metres of water, up to six kilometres off the coast of Miaoli County in north-west Taiwan.
Formosa Phase 2 is a key development for the state as it moves away from traditional power sources towards renewable energy.
Phase 1 of Formosa featured two 4MW demonstration turbines installed in 2016.
The installation contract is subject to a final investment decision and financial close, both of which are expected later this year.
About Seajacks:
Seajacks UK is an East Anglian based offshore installation company committed to building the world’s most advanced and versatile fleet of self-propelled jack-up vessels equipped to service the demands of the offshore wind industry. Its offshore crews work in full conjunction with all of its clients, looking to provide the most cost-effective solutions in the safest environments possible.
Seajacks UK has a fleet of 5 GustoMSC designed vessels, all capable of installing and maintaining offshore wind farms in harsh conditions. The fleet includes Seajacks Kraken, Seajacks Leviathan, Seajacks Hydra, Seajacks Zaratan and Seajacks Scylla, which between them have a track record of over 445 wind turbine installations, providing an effective solution to the installation and maintenance of offshore wind turbines and foundations.