Enterprize Energy and Northland Power Start Offshore Wind Project in Taiwan

Singapore-based upstream energy company Enterprize Energy and Canada’s Northland Power Inc. have launched an inaugural offshore wind farm project in the Taiwan Strait, the Hai Long offshore wind farm project.

Hai Long is a joint venture between Yushan Energy, the wholly owned operating subsidiary of Enterprize Energy, and Northland Power, owning 40% and 60% of the project, respectively.

The Hai Long wind farm is a utility-scale project located in the Taiwan Strait,some 50 kilometres offshore Changhua County on the west coast of Taiwan in water depths of 30 to 50 metres. The capacity of the wind farm was not disclosed.

Founder and Chairman of Enterprize Energy, Ian Hatton,said: “From 2012, having recognized the combination of the Taiwan Strait’s excellent natural resource and the positive, pragmatic and balanced regulatory regime introduced by the Government of Taiwan, we have progressively developed our presence in Taiwan’s exciting but challenging offshore wind sector.”

Yushan Energy’s Taipei-based development team is comprised of local professionals. Hai Long intends to assist Taiwan in meeting its offshore wind generation objectives and help create an Asian offshore wind industry that, given the particular challenges in the region, will potentially be a role model to other regions of the world, presenting Taiwan with great export potential for their services, Enterprize Energy said.

Malcolm Garrity, Chief Executive of Enterprize Energy, said: “Northland Power has made a significant entrance to the offshore wind sector through acquisition and construction of the North Sea Gemini and Nordsee projects. Consequently, they are able to bring market-leading experience in offshore wind project financing to Hai Long. Both Joint Venture partners are very committed to Hai Long making a major contribution to the ongoing development of the Taiwanese offshore wind industry.”

Hatton previously established Eclipse Energy which developed the 150MW Ormonde offshore wind farm in the East Irish Sea.