COWI's Green Mission: A Commitment to Green Energy Development in the Asia-Pacific

COWI boasts extensive experience in green energy, particularly green hydrogen and carbon capture technologies." Pui Lee notes. In addition to its offshore wind power expertise, COWI actively participates in several major global projects. These include Denmark's Energy Island project, which integrates renewable energy production from offshore wind, hydrogen and initiatives exploring green fuels for transportation. The company also possesses a proven success record in Power-to-X (P2X) technology.

By Xin-En Wu and Mei-Xu Shi

COWI, a Danish multinational engineering consulting firm founded nearly 90 years ago, boasts over 70 subsidiaries across four continents and a portfolio exceeding 10,000 projects. Ranked the 8th largest global wind power engineering consulting company by ENR2022 (Engineering News Record 2022), COWI is especially renowned for its expertise in offshore wind turbine foundation design. The company's current offshore wind power projects in Taiwan include Formosa 1, Formosa 2, Formosa 4, Taipower Demonstration Wind Farm, Changhua Phases I and II Wind Farms, OWF Yunlin, Guanyin Wind Farm, Changfang & Xidao Wind Farm, and Hai Long Offshore Wind Farm.

Nurturing Talent: Cultivating Engineers to Address Global Challenges

As a global leader in professional energy engineering consulting, talent acquisition and development are paramount. "In Taiwan, we continuously recruit and train engineers. Our team members not only work in Taiwan, but also participate in international projects," Dr. Pui Lee Vun, Business Development Director of Renewable Energy in APAC and Branch Managerof COWI Taiwan, notes. "Our goal is to cultivate engineers who can tackle global challenges!" Pui Lee further highlights COWI's meticulous engineer selection process, involving multi-stage interviews and individual assessments. Recruits are then sent to Denmark for training, fostering relationships with colleagues, and solidifying the concept of "OneCOWI." This company culture brings a sense of belonging and ensures new employees seamlessly integrate upon joining.

Interview with Pui Lee Vun, Branch Manager of COWI Taiwan & Business Development Director of Renewable Energy in APAC

Pui Lee also shared his journey of joining COWI and establishing the Taiwan branch. He completed his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the UK. During the economic downturn of 1998, he secured a scholarship for a master's degree at the University of Cambridge. Subsequently, he participated in a scholar program led by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with HR Wallingford, where his research focus shifted to offshore wind turbine foundations, particularly earthquake-induced seabed liquefaction. In 2004, his research transitioned to liquefied natural gas (LNG), and upon completing his doctorate, he joined HR Wallingford, focusing on LNG and pipeline projects in Africa and Asia.

Pui Lee is also one of the pioneer committee members of the Renewable Energy Sector Committee for the Chartered Engineering Board in Singapore, which was newly formed in early 2024. He believes this platform can offer better opportunities for engineering professionals in their career development and progression in the renewables sector, contributing to a more leviable world for mankind's future.

"I started my career working on LNG to Power projects, participating in significant endeavors for international companies like Shell and British Gas." Pui Lee explains. However, his interest in COWI's expertise and reputation, particularly in offshore wind power, ultimately led him to join the company.

Since joining COWI, Pui Lee has made numerous visits to Taiwan, contributing to various projects, including FORMOSA1, FORMOSA2, and Taipower phase 1. In 2019, he assumed the role of Manager of the COWI Taiwan Branch and has been responsible for office operation, business development and project deliveries. He is also overseeing employee recruitment and training. Despite the initial challenges, COWI has established a profound reputation in Taiwan while developing other projects in Korea and Japan.

Strengthen Carbon Reduction Efforts in the Asia-Pacific Region with Power-to-X , Green Fuels and Green Hydrogen

"COWI boasts extensive experience in green energy, particularly green hydrogen and carbon capture technologies." Pui Lee notes. In addition to its offshore wind power expertise, COWI actively participates in several major global projects. These include Denmark's Energy Island project, which integrates renewable energy production from offshore wind, hydrogen and initiatives exploring green fuels for transportation. The company also possesses a proven success record in Power-to-X (P2X) technology.