Hai Long Offshore Wind Project Announces Official Launch of Offshore Construction

The Hai Long Offshore Wind Project (hereinafter referred to as the Hai Long Project) held a groundbreaking ceremony today (11th), announcing the official launch of offshore construction. The Hai Long Project has obtained all relevant permits, and important wind farm components are steadily arriving at the main command port. Taiwan's first locally built offshore wind turbine installation vessel, the "Green Jade," will carry out the first phase of construction in the waters off Changhua.

The Hai Long Project will use the "Green Jade" as its primary installation vessel. This vessel is the first large floating crane designed and manufactured locally in Taiwan by CSBC Corporation. It is registered under the Taiwanese flag and has a high load capacity, along with a 4,000-ton class large crane boom and a DP3 dynamic positioning system. It is perfectly suitable for the transportation and installation of wind turbine underwater foundations and substations.

The Hai Long Project has previously completed preliminary work on seabed exploration and seabed leveling. Progress is currently underway for the manufacturing of underwater foundation piles and underwater foundations for offshore substations. The team is now ready to commence full-scale offshore transportation and installation operations. The first step will involve the installation of underwater foundation piles, followed by submarine cable laying and offshore substation construction. Finally, the wind turbine installation is expected to begin in 2024.

Tim Kittelhake, CEO of the Hai Long Project, stated, "The commencement of offshore construction signifies another important milestone for the Hai Long Project. With government policy support, strong partnerships with contractors, a reliable supply chain, and a robust project team, we are confident in completing the wind farm construction on schedule and with high quality. The Hai Long Project continues to implement the highest environmental and safety standards to ensure the safe progress of the project."

For the offshore construction of the Hai Long Project, a large number of local professional maritime engineering teams are expected to be mobilized, with an estimated deployment of approximately 40 vessels and 1,000 to 1,200 personnel for offshore operations.

With a total installed capacity of over 1 GW, the Hai Long Project is expected to be grid-connected between 2025 and 2026. If officially commissioned, it will become Taiwan's largest single offshore wind power development project, contributing to Taiwan's goal of achieving a renewable energy capacity of 15 GW between 2026 and 2035.