• By Angelica Oung / Journalist

Danish wind turbine maker Vestas A / S said yesterday it has invested NT $ 9 billion ($ 324.64 million) in its local supply chain to supply components for its 9.5 megawatt (MW ).

The project has helped create 1,500 jobs, including 150 by Vestas itself, said Vestas Country Manager Alex Robertson.

The wind turbine is to be used in four offshore wind farm projects for a total of 123 wind turbines, or 1.2 gigawatt (GW) of total capacity, he said.

“It’s a location like I’ve never seen before,†Robertson said at a press conference in Taipei.

Vestas has highlighted 10 Taiwanese supply chain partners who are either in production or awaiting certification as manufacturers of Vestas approved components, including Yeoungguan Group (永 冠 集團) for nacelle castings and for hubs, Fortune Electric for the assembly of nacelles and hubs, Tienli Group (天 力) for the manufacture of wind turbine blades and Shilin Electric (士林 電機) for transformers and switchgear.

However, there can be no assurance that the supply chain that was built for the V174 would transition to become a supplier of Vestas’ next model, the 15MW giant V236, which is taller than the 245m Shinkong Mitsukoshi Life building. in Taipei.

Wind turbines have grown rapidly in size to improve energy efficiency efficiency.

The V236 will produce 65% more power than its predecessor, Vestas said.

“Our 30-year supply chains in Europe will struggle to make this turbine difficult,†said Robertson. “Our supply chain in Taiwan is only three years old. However, we have invested heavily in our existing suppliers and will do our best to explore the feasibility. “

Robertson urged the Taiwanese government to ignore strict localization requirements and focus its support on Taiwanese companies that have what it takes to export internationally.

“In 10 years, all that will matter is how many truly internationally competitive suppliers we have,†said Robertson. “It’s better to have three real champions than 15 companies that can only survive in the Taiwanese market. “

The Industrial Development Office is due to release location requirements for the third round of Taiwanese offshore wind development on Monday.

Lin Hua-yu (æž—è¯å®‡), director of the office’s metal and mechanical industries division, said that although location requirements dictate that at least 60 percent of some wind turbine components be sourced from Taiwan , the requirement depends on the presence of a Taiwanese company willing to produce the component.

“If there is a Taiwanese company willing to manufacture the component, we guarantee them a percentage to help them start their business as their costs will inevitably be higher at the start,†said Lin.

“However, companies will only be ready to accept a new product if they believe they have a chance to do so in the export market eventually,†Lin added.