Swancor unveils plan to build huge offshore windfarm off Taiwan

Swancor Renewable Energy in Taiwan has revealed plans to develop a massive offshore windfarm far larger than any project to date in the country, off its northwest coast.

The Taiwanese company said it is working with Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, the independent asset management firm in the US that acquired a 95% stake in the company in 2019, and other partners including an entity identified as Siva New Energy, to develop the 4.4-GW Formosa 4 offshore windfarm. It said it had submitted a plan for the project to the Environmental Protection Agency this week.

The massive project will be built in a range of water depths and use bottom-fixed and floating foundations. It will consist of a trio of projects: SITC (Formosa 4-1); Haishuo (Formosa 4-2); and Haisheng (Formosa 4-3).

The company said the site is approximately 18 to 20 km of the coast of Miaoli County and would be capable of meeting electricity demand for up to 4.5M households.

Swancor Renewable Energy is the developer of the 128-MW Formosa 1 offshore windfarm, which has entered into commercial operation and is developing the 376-MW Formosa 2 project. Assuming Formosa 4 passes an environmental assessment and secures government permits, and obtains financing, the project “will be completed and commercialised after 2025,” Swancor stated.

Swancor Renewable Energy chief executive Lucas Lin said the company has been preparing for development of the 4.4-GW project since 2019.

“We are committed to supporting the government’s goal of promoting offshore wind and renewable energy,” he said. “Through the Formosa 4 development plan, we will be committed to strengthening the local supply chain, and at the same time implementing our vision of becoming a leader in the renewable energy industry in the region.”

He went on to say the company would draw on the experience of developing Formosa 1 and 2 and “continue to cultivate a friendly relationship with the Miaoli County government, residents and industries.”

Miaoli County Mayor Xu Yaochang expressed support for the project. He said, “Miaoli has the best offshore wind conditions in Taiwan. Its unique natural resources are most suitable for the development of offshore wind power.

“We fully support Swancor’s plans in Miaoli, which will help develop the marine economy in the county and will work with local government to promote more offshore windfarms.”

Source: Riviera