COP appoints Changfang and Xidao CEO

Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP) has appointed Dennis Sanou as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Changfang and Xidao offshore wind projects in Taiwan.

Sanou will be the projects’ CEO during the construction phase. He will lead a specialist offshore wind team comprising 70 people in Taipei covering all aspects of the project including permitting, engineering, design, procurement, and stakeholder engagement to secure project financing.

With a combined capacity of 589 MW, the Changfang and Xidao projects officially entered the construction phase after reaching the financial close back in February.

The Changfang and Xidao wind farms will feature 62 MHI Vestas 9.5 MW wind turbines scheduled to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2024.

The project will localize the jacket foundation, pin piles, onshore substation, transport and installation contracts, and more than 15 wind turbine components, COP said.

Sanou has nearly 20 years of experience in marine operations and offshore wind farm construction. He covered the role of the CEO for the 370 MW Norther offshore wind farm in Belgium and the 129 MW Luchterduinen offshore wind farm in the Netherlands.

The Changfang and Xidao projects are owned by CI II and CI III, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ funds, and a minority stake is owned by two local life insurance companies, Taiwan Life Insurance, and TransGlobe Life Insurance.