Co-organized by Ørsted and the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC), the competition was held for the first time this year and attracted nearly 70 creative proposals. These proposals focused on innovative technologies and services that can be used throughout the lifecycle of offshore wind farm development, construction, and operations. There are also proposals related to sustainable development and growth of the renewable energy industry, ranging from the perspectives of society, economics, and the environment.
After nine months of preliminary review, mentoring sessions, and final selection, the honours went to a proposal for drone inspection and environmental monitoring in the non-student group, and a green hydrogen cost analysis system in the student group.
Christy Wang, Chairperson of Ørsted Taiwan, says: “We are thrilled with the enthusiastic response to the award, which well demonstrated Taiwan’s immense potential in offshore wind and sustainable development. We look forward to leveraging corporate resources and support from the public sector to help the winning teams implement their innovative ideas addressing industry challenges. Ørsted is committed to continuing to nurture green talent with tangible resources and professional guidance, empowering the offshore wind industry with exceptional personnel and innovation, and propels growth of Taiwan’s green energy industry.”
Lin Jen-Yi, Chairperson of MIRDC, says, “MIRDC is glad to collaborate with the world’s largest offshore wind company, Ørsted, and host the Sustainable Innovation Accelerator competition. Through pooling creative technology or technical proposals from various teams, we would like to assist local companies in upgrading their capabilities and fostering talent, thereby driving Taiwan's innovation and research potential.”
Non-student Group Winner: "Drone Inspection and Environmental Monitoring"
The winning proposal in the non-student group utilizes innovative smart imaging drones to inspect wind turbine blades for defects, integrating environmental monitoring technics and real-time 5G video images with the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. By combining underwater and coastal noise microphones, the system is conducive to collect ecological information. Both feasibility and commercial potential of the proposal were well recognized by the judges.
Student Group Winner: "Green Hydrogen Cost Analysis System"
The winning proposal in the student group, "HydrogenE3: Innovative Wind Power Green Hydrogen Cost Analysis System," developed a tool that accessed the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) cost analysis model, Generative AI technology, and an interactive visualization platform to evaluate the cost of producing hydrogen from wind power. The team, which consists of PhD, master’s, and undergraduate students, was well praised by the judges for their innovative approach. Additionally, another submission in the student group, "Chicken Coops—Freedom for Egg-laying Hens," is a proposal by landscape architecture students to create chicken coops from decommissioned wind turbine blades. Their creative approach was well-received, earning them Jury’s Prize.
Ørsted awarded the Green Energy Scholarship for four consecutive years between 2019-2023, encouraging young students to engage in offshore wind studies and research. This year Ørsted upgraded the program to the Sustainable Innovation Accelerator competition, expanding participation to industry professionals and shifting the focus from individual academic scholarships to team-based practical proposals. It is aimed at nurturing innovative proposals for commercial use, fostering the innovative development of Taiwan’s local offshore wind and green energy industries.
For further information, please contact:
Ørsted Asia-Pacific Media Relations
Rachel Chan
racch@orsted.com
+886 933 529 367