Ørsted Starts Typhoon Watch Project in Taiwan

Ørsted has launched a Dual-doppler radar project in Taiwan to collect wind data to understand the dynamics of a typhoon and tropical weather phenomena and how they can affect an offshore wind farm.

Ørsted also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Taiwan University, National Central University, Chinese Culture University and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to build a network of knowledge sharing for meteorological development in Taiwan. The aim is to support the Taiwanese government in reaching its meteorological research goals.

Ørsted’s Dual-doppler Radar System is said to be the most advanced technology of wind measurement available. It is also the only system of its kind that is applied to offshore wind farms in the world. Having successfully operated at Ørsted’s Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm in the United Kingdom, the Dual-doppler radar system will be deployed to Taiwan after all necessary approvals have been received by the authorities.

Matthias Bausenwein, Ørsted’s General Manager Asia Pacific said: “The Dual-doppler Radar Project is part of our extensive plan to promote the local collaboration with academic institutions and bodies. This project will also bring more local content to Taiwan, as we will need local construction companies and local consultants to deliver the project. By bringing the most advanced wind measurement tool to Taiwan, the industry and academia can build a strong platform to further develop technical capabilities in offshore wind.”

Ørsted said that the dual-doppler project is an open collaboration which welcomes relevant bodies in the meteorological research community and universities to improve the understanding of typhoons and strengthen the understanding of wind energy in Taiwan. At the same time, Taiwan research institutions are said to have a unique opportunity to conduct world-leading research in wind energy through the analysis of the data collected from the dual-doppler project.

Ørsted’s Greater Changhua offshore wind project includes four sites located 35 to 60 kilometers off the Changhua coast. The total capacity is expected to be 2.4GW.

In April 2018, the developer secured rights to build two offshore wind farms off Changhua, the 605MW Changua 1 and the 295MW Changhua 2.

Ørsted subsequently won further 920MW capacity for its wind sites offshore Changhua County. The projects are scheduled to be built between 2021 and 2025.

Ørsted is also the co-owner of Taiwan’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project, Formosa 1, which will be extended from its current 8MW capacity to 128MW in 2019.