Taiwan would make rapid headway in the development of offshore wind energy with the installation of 157 wind turbines by the end of this year, government officials said yesterday.
Taiwan’s second-phase wind energy plan is under way, Vice Premier Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津) told a forum on offshore wind energy organized by the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT) and the Global Wind Energy Council.
The government looks forward to working with European companies as they possess knowledge and experience in the field, Shen said.
Photo: Liao Chia-ning, Taipei Times
The development of offshore wind energy is part of Taiwan’s efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, he added.
As of last year, Taiwan had completed two pilot offshore wind farms featuring 43 wind turbines, and the number is expected to reach 200 in late December, a major increase, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said.
The ministry has drawn up a third-phase development plan and would release 1.5 gigawatts of capacity each year to ensure stable market demand and support the building of infrastructure, the supply chain and acquisition of talent, Wang said.
The government would remain open-minded and supportive in the development of wind energy sources, Wang added.
ECCT vice chairman Giuseppe Izzo said the ever-increasing threats posed by climate change and the need for energy security make Taiwan’s energy transformation even more urgent than before.
Although significant progress has been made in Taiwan’s offshore wind market in the development of port infrastructure, supply chain localization and the installation of offshore wind turbines, “there are always challenges to overcome, with such opportunities in a new market,” Izzo said.
Over the past year, Taiwan has seen its first offshore wind project start commercial operations and higher long-term capacity targets were announced, but progress has been hampered by regulatory and logistical issues, the ECCT said.
The chamber organized the forum for a fourth year to help examine the complexities of this promising new market and provide an update on its status, the ECCT said.
By adopting the right strategies and working with ECCT members, Taiwan would be able to reach its offshore wind energy targets, boost energy security and advance toward net zero emissions by 2050, it said.
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