Van Oord has been designated as preferred contractor for a large 640 MW offshore wind project in Taiwan. By obtaining this contract, Van Oord has taken a firm first step on the Asian offshore wind market. This Yunlin project has a contract value of approximately EUR 500 million, the company said in its press release.
The Yunlin offshore wind project is being developed by the German project developer wpd. Van Oord is responsible for the design, manufacturing and installation of the eighty foundations. Preparations for the wind farm, which will be constructed eight kilometres off the coast of the Yunlin prefecture, starts immediately.
The offshore wind strategy of Taiwan is driven by the desire to phase out nuclear energy. High wind speeds, manageable distances in terms of coastal and water depth and a progressive government policy make offshore wind an attractive energy alternative. The aim of the Taiwanese government is to install 5.5 GW of offshore wind projects by 2025. The Yunlin project is part of the Taiwanese government's feed-in tariff ("FIT") programme. This means that it is connected to the Taiwan network and allows a long-term power contract of 20 years. In 2020, about 350 MW must be connected to the grid, with the remaining part following in 2021.
In Asia, and especially in Taiwan, large investments are being made in offshore wind. The Yunlin project is a great opportunity for Van Oord to show our expertise outside Europe. We look forward to working with our local partners to enable the energy transition of Taiwan.
The Yunlin project is the first Van Oord offshore wind project in Taiwan and also its first wind contract outside Europe. However, Taiwan is familiar territory due to previous dredging and offshore projects. At the end of 2017, Van Oord completed one of Taiwan's largest land reclamation projects. With the creation of 250 hectares of new land in the Port of Kaohsiung, Van Oord made a positive contribution to the economic development of the country, as a result of which Van Oord received the Golden Quality Award. This award is an important recognition from the Public Construction Commission of the Taiwanese government.