Offshore wind turbines in Taiwan commence generating electricity for the first time
Orsted Taiwan Ltd has successfully delivered first power from its 920-megawatt (MW) Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms, marking a significant milestone in the company's renewable energy expansion in Taiwan. The wind farms, located 35 to 60 kilometers off the coast of Changhua County in western Taiwan, have began supplying electricity to the national grid as of late July 2025.
The wind farms, which will eventually consist of 66 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA 14-236 turbines, have been installed with piling-free suction bucket jacket foundations, a method that generates almost no noise during installation and can be fully removed at the end of the wind farm's operational life. This innovative approach to foundation construction demonstrates Orsted's commitment to sustainable practices.
The achievement of first power was confirmed on July 23-24, 2025, following the successful installation of all 66 suction-bucket jacket foundations, which was completed earlier in July 2025. The wind farms are now in their commissioning stage, actively delivering power to the grid for the first time. However, the precise timeline to full completion or commercial operation beyond first power has not been disclosed yet.
Orsted Taiwan's managing director, Jayaram Naidu, expressed his satisfaction with the project's rapid progress, stating that achieving first power within three months of installing the first subsea foundation demonstrates the company's "strong project execution" capabilities.
The renewable energy generated by the Greater Changhua 2b and 4 wind farms will be supplied to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) through a 20-year corporate power purchase agreement. This partnership will help TSMC meet its ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
With the completion of the Greater Changhua 2b and 4 wind farms, Orsted will become the largest contributor to Taiwan's offshore wind capacity. The wind farms are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.5 million metric tons annually, a significant contribution to Taiwan's efforts to combat climate change.
Orsted Taiwan chairperson Christy Wang stated that the milestone is significant for the company and reaffirms Taiwan's leadership in offshore wind across the Asia-Pacific region. The amount of offshore wind capacity from these projects is enough to power approximately 2 million households.
The Greater Changhua 2b and 4 wind farms follow the company's 900 MW Greater Changhua 1 and 2a project, which began operations in April last year. With these projects, Orsted is set to increase its total installed offshore wind capacity in Taiwan to 1.82 gigawatts once the new wind farm is fully operational.
Despite challenges in the global wind industry, Orsted has managed to stay on course by working closely with suppliers and contractors. The company continues to push the boundaries of renewable energy technology, setting a positive example for the industry.
References: [1] Orsted. (2025, July 23-24). Orsted Taiwan delivers first power from Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms. Retrieved from https://www.orsted.com/en/news/2025/orsted-taiwan-delivers-first-power-from-greater-changhua-2b-and-4-offshore-wind-farms
[2] Reuters. (2025, July 23-24). Orsted's Taiwan offshore wind farm achieves first power. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/orsteds-taiwan-offshore-wind-farm-achieves-first-power-2025-07-23/
[3] Renewables Now. (2025, July 15). Orsted Taiwan completes foundation installation for Greater Changhua 2b, 4 offshore wind farms. Retrieved from https://www.renewablesnow.com/news/orsted-taiwan-completes-foundation-installation-for-greater-changhua-2b-4-offshore-wind-farms-657656/
[4] Taiwan Today. (2025, July 23-24). Orsted's Greater Changhua 2b, 4 offshore wind farms deliver first power. Retrieved from https://www.taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,30874&post_id=511676
[5] Green Car Congress. (2025, July 23-24). Orsted's Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan achieve first power. Retrieved from https://www.greencarcongress.com/2025/07/20250723-orsted.html
The innovative construction method used by Orsted Taiwan in their Greater Changhua 2b and 4 wind farms, employing piling-free suction bucket jacket foundations, aligns with their commitment to environmental-science and sustainable practices. This significant milestone in renewable energy expansion also poses an opportunity for the company to make substantial financial gains, given the 20-year corporate power purchase agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), allowing for the investment in technology to help TSMC meet their goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
