Chinese state-owned energy company Taipower has signed a contract with Danish consulting group NIRAS and local advisor Sinotech to work as client advisors for its new 100MW offshore windfarm in Taiwan.
The companies will form a joint venture (JV) to provide the advice for the construction of Changhua Offshore Windfarm, which is expected to commence in 2018 and will be NIRAS’ seventh project in the country.
NIRAS’ business unit director Christian Paulsen said: "NIRAS has a strong name in offshore wind and this is our seventh project in Taiwan. This makes us happy, and we are proud."
The JV’s role will be to advise on issues includes tendering, basic design, review of detailed design, training, and capacity building. This will also include Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), as well as supervision of the construction phase and general technical advice.
NIRAS Expertise Director Tore Lucht said: "At the same time, we are experienced in working closely together between Denmark and Taiwan and managing the process so that the teamwork is smooth, trouble-free, and productive in spite of the large geographical distance, time difference, cultural differences, and having no NIRAS-base in Taiwan.
"The professional challenges include Taiwan not having a suitable hub harbor and a lack of industry standard manufacturing experience or other required facilities to support the country’s rising offshore wind industry."
NIRAS has been developing power projects in Taiwan since 2012.
Image: Construction of the Changhua Offshore Wind Farm is due to begin in 2018. Photo: courtesy of NIRAS.
