Renewable

March 28 (Renewables Now) - MHI Vestas Offshore Wind today announced it has signed four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with suppliers in Taiwan.

The offshore wind turbine manufacturer has agreed partnerships with China Steel Machinery Corp (CSMC) for towers, Tien Li for blades, Formosa Plastics Corp (TPE:1301), or FPC, for blade materials, and Swancor Holding Co Ltd (TPE:3708) for composites and resin.   

The agreements come in the wake of early selection for a portfolio of projects. MHI Vestas, a 50/50 joint venture between Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (TYO:7011) and Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS), said on Twitter on Tuesday that it has signed its first preferred supplier agreements in Taiwan with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and China Steel Corporation (CSC) for 1.5 GW of projects.   

Under the newly unveiled MoUs, CSMC will provide towers -- to be produced in Kaohsiung -- for MHI Vestas' 9-MW turbine platform being offered in Taiwan. FPC will provide materials for blade manufacturing, while Swancor will supply composites and resins for the blade manufacturing process.

Tien Li will be in charge of producing MHI Vestas' turbine blades. The blades will be manufactured in Taichung. "In response to the government’s offshore policy, Tien Li Offshore Wind Technology Co., Ltd. (TLC) plans to set up a blade factory in Taichung Harbour to develop a local supply chain for offshore wind power in Taiwan," said Tien Li president Jonathan Lin.

In striking the supplier partnerships, MHI Vestas has taken advantage of Mitsubishi Group's experience in energy infrastructure in Taiwan, and the turbine manufacturer said more are on the way.

"In bringing our market-leading 9 MW turbine platform and a rich heritage of energy infrastructure experience through Mitsubishi Group, MHI Vestas is well positioned to be the market leader in Taiwan," stated incoming chief executive Philippe Kavafyan.