Iberdrola Reveals Massive Offshore Wind Power Play in Taiwan

Spanish energy giant Iberdrola has announced three new offshore wind development projects in Taiwan with a combined potential capacity of approximately six gigawatts.

The projects are named Da-Chung Bu Offshore Wind (大中部離岸風電), Guo-Feng Offshore Wind (果豐離岸風電) and Ju-Dao Offshore Wind (菊島離岸風電) and will be located in the county waters of Taichung, Changhua, and Penghu on the west coast of Taiwan.

Water depths are appropriate for both fixed bottom and floating offshore wind technology, Iberdrola said.

The entry into Taiwan is said to reinforce Iberdrola’s diversification strategy aimed at being a global leader in offshore wind while consolidating its position as the world’s largest renewable energy company.

”Taiwan’s ambition for significant growth in offshore wind means we have been monitoring the market closely for a number of years, and actively working to develop these new projects for over a year,” David Rowland, Iberdrola’s Global Offshore Wind Development Director, said.

”It is a positive trend to see countries around the world are embracing the huge potential of offshore wind and looking to build quickly and at scale. It is good news for the climate crisis and for the economy. From the detailed studies we have already completed, and the knowledge we have built about the capabilities of the supply chain in Taiwan, we are enthusiastic about the potential of these new projects.”

Taiwan has a target to install an additional nine GW of offshore wind by 2031, and 15 GW by 2035, and the government is currently in the process of finalising its next set of policy measures. Iberdrola’s three development projects are primed for entry into the forthcoming ‘Zonal Development’ auction rounds.

The potential for floating offshore wind offers a significant opportunity for continued growth beyond the existing and planned fixed-bottom projects, the company said. Iberdrola is planning to evaluate both fixed and floating opportunities within the country.

The company plans to establish a project office in Taipei and develop these projects through community engagement and establishing relationships with local workforces and the supply chain.

Iberdrola has worked with local consultants to select the project areas, refining the boundaries through a rigorous assessment of data and stakeholder engagement. Work will now continue to expand the stakeholder engagement effort and complete technical and environmental impact evaluations to ensure the projects continue to be developed with appropriate consideration of the local environment and communities.

The company currently has 1,300 MW of offshore wind capacity installed – Wikinger, East Anglia ONE, and West of Duddon Sands – and 2,600 MW under construction. Projects are being progressed and developed in the UK, United States, Germany, France, Sweden, Japan, Poland, Denmark, Taiwan, and Ireland.