MHI Vestas adds Boltun and Walsin Lihwa to Taiwanese supply chain

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has reached agreements with Taiwan’s Boltun Corporation and Walsin Lihwa Corporation for the delivery of fasteners and cables, respectively.

These agreements will see Boltun and Walsin Lihwa Corporation supply MHI Vestas for CIP-developed wind projects – Changfang Phase 2 and Xidao – to be delivered off the coast of Taiwan beginning in 2023.

The agreements with Boltun and Walsin Lihwa Corporation also cover the Zhong Neng project, where MHI Vestas has been named the preferred turbine supplier.

Changfang Phases 1 and 2, Xidao, and Zhong Neng are the only four Taiwanese projects to have passed the government’s localisation review for projects allocated in Round 2, MHI Vestas said.

Fasteners and cables are both key components of MHI Vestas’ V174 turbine, which is slated for first installation in Taiwan in 2022, the developer said.

With the new agreements, MHI Vestas has become the only wind turbine manufacturer to source fasteners and cables for Taiwanese projects locally.

“We continue to prioritise the sustainable development of Taiwan’s local suppliers,” said MHI Vestas APAC Regional Manager, Masato Yamada.

“As the only wind turbine manufacturer to be sourcing fasteners and cables from Taiwan, we are particularly pleased to be working alongside Boltun and Walsin Lihwa Corporation as they gain valuable experience and expertise in the offshore wind sector. We look forward to continue working with the government to deliver a competitive, regionally-capable Taiwanese offshore wind supply chain.”

Boltun will produce fasteners for MHI Vestas’ projects from its facility in Tainan.

“As the offshore wind sector will be a key part of Taiwan’s energy story, we are pleased to be working with MHI Vestas to deliver fasteners for their first projects in the country,” said Jason Chen, Sales Director of Boltun.

“This early experience will be extremely valuable as we look towards the future and opportunities to export to the APAC region. We must secure our future with these early experiences, so consistency in technology is critical.”

Walsin Lihwa also expects to use the experience gained through this agreement with MHI Vestas to expand its offshore wind offering to the broader Asia-Pacific region.

“To progress and grow with the Taiwanese government’s green energy policy, Walsin Lihwa Corporation has been dedicated to developing wind turbine cables in recent years,” said Jin-Renn Leu, President of Walsin Lihwa Wire & Cable Business Group.

“It is a pleasure to be the designated partner of MHI Vestas, and we will supply cables to their Taiwanese projects. We hope to take this opportunity to work with the world-class wind turbine manufacturer and continue striving to be one of the top cable solution providers in the global market.”

Contracts have now been signed by MHI Vestas in Taiwan for local supply of blades, blade materials, towers, switchgear, rotor hubs, hub plates, and nacelle base frames, with more local supply chain contracts planned for 2020.

Contracts have now been signed by MHI Vestas in Taiwan for the local supply of blades, switchgear, blade materials, towers, rotor hubs, hub plates, and nacelle base frames, with more local supply chain contracts planned for 2020.