Standing tall in the Taiwan Strait, Greater Changhua 1 and 2a —the first large-scale offshore wind project in APAC and Taiwan’s largest—has been providing clean energy to Taiwan for one year in April. With its first anniversary into full operation, it’s worth examining the wind farm on the new benchmarks set for the industry in Taiwan, i.e., going beyond clean energy production to support Taiwan’s energy transition to the next level of the social- and economic-values created through the wind farms.

“An Offshore Wind Farm of this scale requires driving operational excellence and optimization to meet our expectations,” elaborates Andreas Munk-Janson, Head of APAC Operations at Ørsted. “Operating offshore wind farms is much more than just generating power as it is for us to create a sustainable working environment for the people engaged in the operations”.

Ørsted deploys a full-scale Taiwanese operations team to ensure long-term commitment to Taiwan throughout the 30-year wind farm lifecycle

Ørsted has a unique end-to-end business model of developing, constructing, operating and decommissioning offshore wind farms across the globe, which sets the foundation to ensure the long-term success of offshore wind farm operations in Taiwan. At the same time, the operating philosophy and approach is for APAC Operations team to keep direct control of wind farm performance, safety and environmental standards in collaboration with local supplier and contractors.

Ørsted started deploying its operational model in the early stages of Greater Changhua wind farm construction to build up a skilled local team by attracting talent from surrounding industries. Establishing its O&M hub in Taichung harbor, which has become a flagship office for the APAC region, has been a crucial part of this journey. Today, the office houses a large local O&M team.

Ørsted’s O&M team is comprised of only Taiwanese colleagues, from the highly trained and certified engineers overseeing the health of the generation and transmission asset infrastructure, to the team members supporting the wind farm monitoring, operation services, warehouse and logistics.

Collaborations with local educational institutions, such as the apprenticeship program with Dayeh University, further demonstrate Ørsted’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of wind energy professionals. These efforts not only enhance the company’s operational capabilities but also contribute to the sustainable development of Taiwan’s renewable energy sector.

The deployment of the Service Operation Vessels (SOVs), TSS Pioneer, is the cornerstone in the logistical setup offshore equipped with modern amenities and dynamic positioning systems (which allows technicians to “walk to work”), facilitating safe and efficient maintenance activities.

“The ability to work and rest efficiently offshore is essential to gain the most of out of both people and equipment,” Andreas Munk-Janson adds. “TSS Pioneer has overall demonstrated very strong performance and has improved not only our response times to maintenance tasks but also the overall safety and well-being of our teams.”

Optimizing wind farm operations with advanced technology

To optimize wind farm operations, Ørsted integrates advanced technologies such as real-time monitoring systems and predictive maintenance strategies. These technologies enable swift identification and resolution of potential issues, ensuring turbines function efficiently even in complex marine environments.

Ørsted’s commitment to enhancing wind farm availability is driven by cutting-edge data analysis and innovative technologies. By leveraging extensive operational data collected over years from our offshore wind farms, Ørsted continuously refines predictive maintenance strategies, ensuring optimal turbine performance and minimizing downtime.

This integration of advanced technology not only boosts operational efficiency but also underscores Ørsted’s leadership in pioneering sustainable energy solutions.

Building a local offshore wind supply chain: driving economic growth and empowering talent in Changhua

Beyond its contributions to Taiwan’s renewable energy landscape, the Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms have played a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth and fostering local expertise. During their development and construction phase, the wind farms created approximately 8,300 direct and indirect jobs, spanning engineering, manufacturing, and logistical support roles. Over 5,300 supply chain contracts were awarded, including 1,200 local contracts with over 200 local suppliers – an excellent example how large-scale offshore wind farms can help nurture an entire industry value chain.

Building green energy in balance with the nature has been part of the Ørsted commitment where it operates. As one of the world’s most sustainable energy companies, Ørsted has taken its environmental commitment a step further by integrating innovative biodiversity initiatives into its offshore wind projects. The company launched the ReCoral project in collaboration with the Penghu Marine Biology Research Center, aiming to create an environment conducive for coral to grow around the wind turbine foundations.

Using surplus coral spawn collected from the Penghu Islands, researchers nurtured the coral larvae before carefully settling them on the foundations of offshore wind turbines. 

Looking ahead, Ørsted remains committed to deepening its role in Taiwan’s energy transition. The company is currently going full speed ahead with offshore construction of the 920 MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms to support the corporate customer in achieving its decarbonization goal while significantly contributing to Taiwan’s energy transition.