BlueFloat Energy has taken a significant step forward in furthering Taiwan鈥檚 floating offshore wind sector by signing key collaboration agreements with the Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center (SOIC) and CR Classification Society. These agreements focus on the 鈥淒esign and Analysis of Floating Offshore Wind Systems Tailored to Taiwan鈥檚 Unique Environmental Conditions.鈥� Additionally, BlueFloat Energy formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Taiwan University鈥檚 Ocean Center (NTUOC) to conduct a comprehensive morpho-dynamic study for its 鈥淲inds of September鈥� project. Together, these partnerships lay a strong foundation for advancing bid for Taiwan鈥檚 upcoming Floating Wind Demonstration Program.
Partnering with SOIC and CR to Customize Floating Offshore Wind Systems for Taiwan, Paving the Way for a Thriving Domestic Floating Wind Industry
Building on the initial collaboration launched last year, BlueFloat Energy and SOIC further deepen their partnership, by signing an agreement on 鈥淒esign and Analysis of Floating Offshore Wind System for Specific Taiwanese Environments鈥� during Energy Taiwan conference, involving also CR. This agreement aims to address the unique challenges posed by Taiwan鈥檚 marine environment and regulatory framework by conducting comprehensive studies on the region鈥檚 geography, climate, and specific requirements for floating offshore wind. The results of this research will inform the Employer Requirements for the system design in the context of the upcoming Floating Wind Demonstration Program in Taiwan.
Michael Pinkerton, BlueFloat Energy Country Manager for Taiwan, said 鈥渟ince entering the market, we have been actively engaging with the Taiwanese government, industry, and academia to drive technological advancements, particularly for floating wind technologies. In August, we just announced that the 鈥淲inds of September Project 鈥� Phase I鈥� located off the coast of Hsinchu City, will install up to 12 floating platforms with an expected installed capacity of 180 MW. We will continue to prepare for the upcoming demo tender, expected to be launched later this year, and look forward to bringing innovation to Taiwan.鈥�
Dr. Shien-Kuang Chou, CEO from SOIC, emphasized 鈥� SOIC has been dedicated to the research and development of floating wind power technologies for many years. Last year, we signed an MOU with BlueFloat Energy, and this year, we further solidified it into an industry-academia collaboration. This partnership combines our expertise in floating wind system integration for local conditions with CR鈥檚 seismic risk assessment capabilities, supporting BlueFloat Energy in managing Taiwan-specific risks in floating wind farm development. This project also showcases SOIC鈥檚 commitment to applying its technical advancements to serve the industry.鈥�
Dr. Chien-Hua Huang, Chief Surveyor from CR, echoed 鈥渇loating foundations, similar to hull structures, require rigorous engineering design and construction. CR, as the only government-authorized ship inspection institution in Taiwan, possesses extensive expertise in the inspection of floating structures and evaluation of marine environmental conditions. They are also well-versed in international standards and domestic regulations. We believe that the collaboration between the SOIC and BlueFloat Energy will fully leverage the strengths of the parties.鈥�
Additionally, BlueFloat Energy has partnered with the NTUOC, the team with the deepest understanding of Taiwan鈥檚 surrounding waters. Leveraging their expertise in marine geological surveys of the Taiwan Strait, signing an MoU on the morpho-dynamic study for its 鈥淲inds of September Project 鈥� Phase I鈥�. This collaboration will focus on assessing potential geological disaster risks based on seabed survey results.
BlueFloat Energy is ready! We are poised to make a critical contribution toward achieving offshore wind capacity targets for Taiwan
BlueFloat Energy is seeking not only to spearhead the development of Taiwan鈥檚 first floating wind farm but also to establish a sustainable and resilient floating wind industry locally.
Cl茅ment Mochet, Acting Executive Vice President Asia at BlueFloat Energy, said: 鈥渙ffshore wind development offers enormous economic benefits for Taiwan. Each project can attract significant investment, potentially exceeding NT$100 billion depending on its scale. After nearly 3 years in the market, our confidence in investing in Taiwan remains strong. Taiwan now stands at a critical juncture in the global energy transition, impacting not only its energy policies but also its international competitiveness. Floating wind has made significant strides this year in France and the UK. We believe that launching floating demonstrations by the end of 2024 is ideal for advancing Taiwan floating wind development, which will help focus on determining how to deploy various aspects of floating wind technology, in order to assess local supply chain capabilities, and effectively accelerate the subsequent cost-reduction through future commercial phase.鈥�
Leveraging our partner鈥檚 extensive experience and research capabilities in marine engineering combined with BlueFloat Energy鈥檚 deep technical expertise in floating offshore wind, we stand ready to advance the deployment of Taiwan鈥檚 floating offshore wind industry. and to contribute to Taiwan鈥檚 2035 offshore wind installation capacity target to meet corporate green power needs.
Milestones of 鈥淲inds of September-Phase 1鈥� Project
March 2023, As the first developer to deploy a floating LiDAR in the deep waters of Hsinchu, we have successfully collected a complete dataset spanning over four seasons. Furthermore, we have established a cooperative partnership with HCFA to provide vessel escort services.
October 2023, Signed MOUs with SOIC and NTU focusing on technological research and development as well as talent cultivation.
January 2024, Winds of September Project successfully passed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) review.
May 2024, Under the guidance of Hsinchu City Government, collaborated with Hsinchu Fishermen Association to organize a fish fry release event to promote marine resource conservation.
August 2024, signed an agreement with MIRDC to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the local supply chain for floating offshore wind.