Located 35-60 km off the coast of Changhua County, Greater Changhua 2b and 4 were awarded in June 2018 as part of Taiwan’s first competitive price-based auction, which had no mandatory local content requirements. In July 2020, Ørsted signed a 20-year fixed-price corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) for the corporate customer to offtake the full production of the wind farms.
Per Mejnert Kristensen, President of Region APAC at Ørsted, says: " The commencement of offshore construction for Greater Changhua 2b and 4 demonstrates Ørsted’s unwavering commitment to developing, constructing, and operating large-scale offshore wind farms in Taiwan.
As the first offshore wind farms in Taiwan backed by a CPPA, Greater Changhua 2b and 4 clearly demonstrate the confidence that the customer and the market have in Ørsted’s industry-leading technical expertise and extensive experience. Additionally, the wind farms also show that offshore wind is an important and stable source of large-scale clean energy in building a low-carbon economy.”
Jayaram Naidu, Managing Director of Greater Changhua Offshore Wind Farms at Ørsted, says: " Our team is diligently working to ensure the timely and successful completion of the 920 MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms. Progress is advancing well with the onshore works, and we anticipate the offshore installation to be completed by the end of 2025. The wind farms are scheduled to be fully connected to the grid in 2026, fulfilling Ørsted’s commitments under the grid contract with Taiwanese authorities and the CPPA with our corporate customer. Ensuring safety remains our utmost priority as we continue collaborating closely with our suppliers and contractors to maintain the highest industry standards in quality, health, safety, and environment.”
The 920 MW project will feature 66 Siemens Gamesa 14-236 DD 14 MW wind turbines, the largest of their kind to be deployed in the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, the wind farms will implement the environmentally friendly and piling-free technology of suction bucket jacket (SBJ) foundation technology for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region.
Since its final investment decision in March 2023, Ørsted has begun manufacturing key components, completed civil work of the onshore substation, and mobilised vessels in preparation for offshore construction.
Together with suppliers and contractors, the team has commenced seabed scour protection and is progressing with full-scale offshore construction, including installation of the offshore substation, SBJ foundations, wind turbines as well as the laying of array and export cables. The jacket, piles, and topside of the offshore substation departed from the construction yards in Batam and Singapore earlier this month and are currently en route to Taiwan, where installation will begin as soon as weather conditions permit.
SBJ foundations and wind turbine components are arriving at the marshalling yard in the Port of Taichung at a steady pace, making ready for the installation to start in late March. The full-scale offshore construction phase will involve over 40 international and domestic vessels, including crew transfer vessels, installation and support vessels, service operation vessels, and guard vessels as well as 1,600-1,800 personnel at peak times.
Ørsted’s suppliers have recruited certified Taiwan Cetacean Observers, including Changhua fishermen, to support offshore activities. Alongside offshore construction, preparations to ramp up the local operations and maintenance (O&M) team are progressing well, with recruitment of more Taiwanese technicians to ensure the optimal performance and a stable clean energy output from Greater Changhua 2b and 4 for decades to come.
Facts about Greater Changhua 2b and 4
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Capacity: 920 MW.
- Location: 35-60 km off the coast of Changhua County, Taiwan.
- Water depth: 23.8 m - 44.1 m.
- Size of the wind farms: 185 km2.
- Wind turbine capacity: 14 MW (66 Siemens Gamesa 14-236 DD).
Key milestones
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Project awarded: June 2018.
- Final investment decision: March 2023.
- Onshore substation construction begins: May 2023.
- Offshore construction begins: February 2025
- First power: Estimated in Q3 2025.
- Offshore installation: Expect to complete by the end of 2025
- Full grid connection in 2026.
