Berlin, April 3 (CNA) Spain-based windfarm builder Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has been contracted to supply 120 megawatts of capacity for the second phase of Taiwan's pioneering Formosa I offshore wind power plant, the company announced Tuesday.
The contract signed that day came one year after SGRE joined the commencement phase of the wind power project, located around six kilometers off the west coast of Miaoli County in northern Taiwan.
In addition to the installation of 20 direct-drive wind turbines, the deal also includes a 15-year full service agreement aimed at ensuring the reliability and optimal performance of the turbines, according to SGRE, a merger enterprise between Siemens Wind Power and Gamesa.
"We are proud to be involved with the Formosa 1 development team in this pioneering project," said SGRE Offshore CEO Andreas Nauen.
"This contract is an important milestone for the development of offshore wind in the region. Also, it is an important step for Siemens Gamesa in our ambition to support Taiwan in implementing a reliable and efficient energy system to meet the government's targets for decarbonization," he was cited as saying in a statement by the company.
Siemens Gamesa currently has approximately 2,300 offshore wind turbines in operation globally with a combined capacity of more than 11 gigawatts.
Eyeing Taiwan's offshore wind power business, SGRE is using its Taipei office as its regional offshore wind hub in the Asia-Pacific, excluding China.
Moreover, it has forged cooperation links with several Taiwanese companies, including Taiwan International Ports Corp., Yeong Guan Energy Technology Group and Swancor Holdings Co., on the development of the offshore wind supply chain in Taiwan, since late 2017.
Formosa I, Taiwan's first offshore wind project, comprises two phases, with the first designed to have a total capacity of 8 MW and consisting of two turbines that were successfully installed in October 2016.
The second phase will provide a further 120 MW of capacity and is planned to be constructed during 2019.
