MHI Vestas has leased a 5,000-square-metre site in Taiwan for assembly of turbines for some of the island’s largest offshore wind projects.

The OEM along with developer Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) took the site on Taichung Harbour as a key next step in an extensive local supply chain MHI Vestas is building in Taiwan.

MHI Vestas has won firm contracts for its V174 9.5MW turbines for the Changfang and Xidao projects developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), which have a combined capacity of 589MW. The OEM is also the preferred supplier for the 300MW Zhong Neng project by CIP and China Steel Corporation.

Leased from a unit of Fortune Electric, which is developing the site, the facility is expected to be used for turbine hub assembly for some projects, as well as final nacelle-related assembly and testing, said MHI Vestas.

The OEM – established as a joint venture between Vestas and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, but currently the subject of a full buy-out by the Danish wind group – has established an extensive network of suppliers that will help it and CIP meet Taiwan’s stringent local content rules.

It has deals in place covering areas including hubs, towers, key electrical components and blade materials. Work to build a blade plant to supply MHI Vestas turbines is underway by supply chain partner Tien Li.

Maida Zahirovic, MHI Vestas Taiwan business director, said: “Sustainable localisation also requires sufficient sites for offshore wind project activities to be carried out safely. The Fortune site is a suitable location for some of the ground-breaking manufacturing work MHI Vestas is bringing to Taiwan. This will be a key central location for MHI Vestas’ activities in Taiwan.”

Like rival Siemens Gamesa – which is also building a local supply chain – MHI Vestas is chasing opportunities in a Taiwanese offshore wind market that has emerged as one of the world’s most active.

Taiwan’s government last year committed to developing an extra 10GW offshore wind capacity between 2026 and 2035, adding to 5.5GW already allocated.

Wind

MHI Vestas bags big Taiwan factory for offshore wind turbine assembly