Wind power companies flock to Taiwan's breezy shores
TAIPEI/TOKYO -- Taiwan is preparing to choose the winners in a crowded global contest to develop offshore wind power for the island, as companies around the world shift their focus toward Asia in search of more profitable projects. The decision is expected to be announced on April 30.
From article, (Anticipation was intense Friday afternoon as executives from companies including Australian financier Macquarie Group and German wind farm developer WPD gathered at the headquarters of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs. Taipei is entering its final phase of talks before awarding contracts for 3.5 million kilowatts of offshore wind facilities expected to begin operations in 2025. This portion of the project is worth around 630 billion New Taiwan dollars ($21 billion).
Taiwan granted environmental permits at the end of last year to wind power developers to build a total of 10.6 million kilowatts in offshore capacity. Those companies are competing for 5.5 million kilowatts of contracts, with 3.5 million kilowatts guaranteed at a fixed rate through a feed-in tariff system, and the rest up for auction. Investment applications, including costs after 2026, total some NT$1.8 trillion.
Taiwan's capacity in 2017 was 8,000kW, which would grow to more than 5.5 million kW in 2025 if the plan materializes.
President Tsai Ing-wen has pledged to end the island's dependence on nuclear power by 2025 while sourcing 20% of Taiwan's electricity from renewable energy, five times the share in 2015. Her plan depends on offshore wind, for which the Taiwan Strait is particularly suitable. Wind speeds in the strait average over 25km per hour year-round, making it the best place in Asia to generate wind power, one participating company noted.)
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