MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has reached agreements with local Taiwanese suppliers to source fasteners and cables, becoming the only wind turbine manufacturer to source these components locally
The company has signed agreements with Boltun Corporation for fasteners and Walsin Lihwa Corporation for cables.
The agreements will see Boltun and Walsin Lihwa Corporation supply MHI Vestas for projects developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners projects, namely Changfang Phase 2 and Xidao, which are due 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 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.
Fasteners and cables are key components of MHI Vestas’ V174 turbine, which is slated for first installation in Taiwan in 2022.
MHI Vestas APAC regional manager Masato Yamada said, “We continue to prioritise the sustainable development of Taiwan’s local suppliers.
“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 is a metal parts manufacturer established in 1988. It will produce fasteners at its facility in Tainan, Taiwan.
Since its inception in 1966, Walsin Lihwa Corporation has produced power cables and wires for use in a wide range of industries.
On 16 July 2020, the company also announced that it had signed a purchase agreement with KK Wind Solutions for power conversion module (PCM) assembly, and local manufacturing of low voltage cabinets and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to support the company’s future projects in Taiwan.
KK Wind Solutions has 40 years of experience in electrical systems for the wind industry. As part of KK Wind Solutions’ investment, local workers will be hired and trained to work on turbine components.
A production facility will be established in the vicinity of Taichung Harbour by KK Wind Solutions, where assembly of the PCM, a power electronics system that converts wind energy into electricity, will take place. Low voltage cabinets and UPS systems, which ensure optimal power supply and that critical load levels are maintained in the turbine, will also be produced on the site, creating long-term manufacturing jobs.
Contracts have now been signed by MHI Vestas in Taiwan for the local supply of blades, blade materials (bonding glue, resin, pultruded carbon plates), towers, switchgear, rotor hubs, hub plates and nacelle base frames, with more local supply chain contracts planned for 2020.
MHI Vestas claims to be the only wind turbine manufacturer to procure blades, blade materials, switchgear, fasteners and cables in Taiwan.
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