The largest operating offshore wind farms in the Asia-Pacific

Greater Changhua 1 and Greater Changhua 2a offshore wind farms have been inaugurated, becoming the largest operating offshore wind farms in the Asia-Pacific region with a combined capacity of 900MW.

The inauguration of the two wind farms, which took place at Ørsted’s operations and maintenance hub in the Port of Taichung, comes approximately three years since the start of construction works and about 2 years since the Greater Changhua 2a wind farm produced its first power in April 2022.

Ørsted is the largest energy company in Denmark, one of the leading renewable energy companies in the entire world and the sole owner of the Greater Changhua 2a. The company is also a co-owner of the Greater Changhua 1 with a 50% stake.

Mercury Taiwan Holdings, a consortium between Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Cathay Private Equity is the other owner of the Greater Changhua 1 with a 50% stake as well. CDPQ is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and para-public pension and insurance plans.

Cathay Capital on the other hand is a private equity investment firm operating in Europe, China and North America, with over US$ 2 billion in assets under management and investments in over 80 companies.

A part of Taiwan’s Greater Changhua offshore wind farms

Comprising 111 Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbines supplied by Siemens Gamesa, a leader in the renewable energy industry working to provide the world’s best offshore and onshore wind turbines and services, the Greater Changhua 1 and Greater Changhua 2a offshore wind farms are a part of Taiwan’s Greater Changhua offshore wind farms.

Changhua offshore wind farms are a series of offshore wind farms that are being developed in the Taiwan Strait, from 35km to 60km off the coast of Changhua County, Taiwan. Other than the 605MW Greater Changhua 1 and the 295MW Greater Changhua 2a, the complex also includes the 337MW Greater Changhua 2b, the 600MW Greater Changhua 3 and the 583MW Greater Changhua 4.

Construction is currently ongoing on the Greater Changhua 2b and the Greater Changhua 4. The works commenced in the third quarter of 2023 following the final investment decision (FID) which was made in March 2023.

Now that work on the Greater Changhua 1 and Greater Changhua 2a which have reportedly doubled the country’s offshore wind capacity and successfully catalyzed her offshore wind ecosystem is complete, Ørsted said that the focus is now on the Greater Changhua 2b and the Greater Changhua 4.

Completion of other Changhua offshore wind farms

The Greater Changhua 2b and the Greater Changhua 4 are expected to be complete by the end of 2015 and begin commercial operation by 2026.

The start of construction or completion of the Greater Changhua 3 is not yet known, however, what’s known for sure is that upon completion, the Changhua offshore wind farms will together form Taiwan’s largest wind power complex that can power at least 2.8 million Taiwanese households.