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Offshore Wind to Take Off in Taiwan

Almost 40 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions come from the countries in East and Southeast Asia, and it is expected that the emissions will increase in pace with the region’s economic boom. From a climate perspective, renewable energy, rather than fossil fuels, should meet the region’s growth and increasing energy demand. The good news is that the prospects for more renewables in the region are promising. In 2015, more than half of the global investments in clean energy came from East and Southeast Asia. Increasing interest for offshore wind For a long time, solar has dominated the East- and Southeast Asian clean investments. But, offshore wind power has attracted increasing interest in recent years.

By Sustainable Brands | Published 8 years ago | About a 2 minute read

The good news is that the prospects for more renewables in the region are promising. In 2015, more than half of the global investments in clean energy came from East and Southeast Asia.

Increasing interest for offshore wind

For a long time, solar has dominated the East- and Southeast Asian clean investments. But, offshore wind power has attracted increasing interest in recent years.

“Offshore wind is about to become a truly global industry,” says Martin Neubert, DONG’s Chief Strategy Officer. “We’re building our pipeline of wind farm projects beyond 2020, and we see potential in the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan is the most mature market at this stage, and that’s why we’ll start here.”

Clean power for 10 million people

Today, the Taiwanese are dependent on fossil fuel imports, but they plan to phase out black energy to obtain a sustainable energy mix over time.

Taiwan has passed a comprehensive strategy for renewable energy in which offshore wind plays a key role. Conditions for offshore wind are good in Taiwan, especially on the west coast. In addition, the high population density, and subsequently the high value of land, strengthens the economic argument to build offshore wind.

Time will show exactly how much offshore wind capacity will rise in the waters of Taiwan and in the rest of East and Southeast Asia. In any case, companies such as DONG Energy are on their way east to explore and create opportunities.