Siemens Gamesa Taps Fred. Olsen Windcarrier for Taiwan Offshore Wind Work

March 11, 2019, by Adnan Durakovic

Siemens Gamesa has awarded Fred. Olsen Windcarrier with a contract for the transport and installation of wind turbines on the Yunlin offshore wind farm in Taiwan.

The 640MW Yunlin offshore wind farm is located some 6 kilometres off the southwest coast of Taiwan and will feature 80 SG 8.0-167 DD machines. The installation will be split into two phases which will be carried out in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Fred. Olsen Windcarrier will mobilise one of its special purpose-built jack-up installation vessels in Europe during the spring of 2020 which will head to Asia to start working in this emerging market.

The company aims at engaging various local stakeholders in their scope of work. This may include ship agencies, installation port authorities, steel fabricators, engineering consultancies and R&D and education centres among others.

“This is a very exciting project as it is the first large transport and installation project in Asia for us. We are glad to have been picked by SGRE as a reliable partner for this new market. The contract will continue to strengthen our relationship with SGRE. We are looking forward to bringing our European experience and capabilities to the project, working with the local supply chain in Taiwan,” said Martin Degen, Commercial Manager, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier.

The Yunlin project is owned and developed by wpd group. The project is one of eleven offshore wind projects selected by the Taiwanese government under the feed-in tariff (FIT) programme. In 2020, about 350MW must be connected to the grid, with the remaining part following in 2021.

“Taiwan is a strong developing market for SGRE, as such it is essential that we operate with partners who we are sure to bring the right team and the right assets for the job. We are confident that Fred. Olsen Windcarrier will prove themselves with us again. We are looking forward to be working together again, this time for Yunlin,” Russell Brice, Head of Marine Operations, Siemens Gamesa Offshore, said.