Taiwan Offshore Floating Solar Energy Industry Association Officially Launched to Advance Sector Development

After extensive preparations by domestic industries in the fields of marine engineering, photovoltaics, energy storage, hydrogen energy, and power grids, the Taiwan Offshore Floating Solar Energy Industry Association held its inaugural meeting on June 13. The meeting elected Ji-Xu Dong, Chairman of Sun Rise E&T Corporation (SUN RISE), as the association's first president. Representatives from Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Acmepoint Energy Services, Formosa Smart Energy, and the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research were also elected as board and supervisory members.

Ji-Xu Dong stated that to meet Taiwan's target of 35.02 GW in solar PV installations by 2035, approximately 12,600 hectares of land would be required, a significant burden for a densely populated and land-scarce country like Taiwan. To support Taiwan's accelerated energy transition, the industry aims to diversify the use of offshore wind sites by integrating solar PV, solar-storage systems, surplus energy hydrogen production, and maritime installation technologies. This could offer a new solution for the development of renewable energy.

With the establishment of the Association, a platform will be built for information exchange, resource integration, and technical collaboration between marine and green energy sectors. In addition, the association plans to gear up to enter the international race in floating solar power, competing with national-level offshore wind-solar integration initiatives in the EU, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.

Mr. Dong emphasized that Taiwan has a complete solar PV supply chain, but rapid demonstration and deployment are needed for maritime installation technologies and equipment such as floating systems, mooring systems, and module materials. Regulatory frameworks and infrastructure must also be adapted and established. The national energy pilot project led by SUN RISE, "Offshore Solar Power System Floating Platform Technology Development," has tested various companies' technologies and materials under harsh marine conditions. Mr. Dong expressed hope that the Association will serve as a platform to connect globally, introduce advanced technologies, and overcome extreme climate conditions such as waves, monsoons, and salt spray, unlocking new blue ocean opportunities for green energy.

The Association also plans to work with all sectors to assist public agencies in formulating appropriate regulations and standards, participate in setting domestic and international floating solar standards, and establish verification systems. Through value chain integration, the Association aims to enhance industry competitiveness and form a national floating solar industry team, opening a new chapter for offshore renewable energy development in Taiwan and around the world.

The founding members of the Taiwan Offshore Floating Solar Energy Industry Association include publicly listed companies such as Formosa Plastics Corporation, Fortune Electric, SUN RISE, Acmepoint Energy, HD Renewable Energy, Anji Technology, VAI Renewables, Formosa Smart Energy, Cathay Century Insurance, and Wills Towers Watson Insurance Brokers, as well as representatives from Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, CR Classification Society, and experts in hydraulic and marine ecology—51 members in total.