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MHI Vestas boosts local

content in Taiwan

TAIWAN MHI Vestas has signed a contract to buy spinner Composites, a skilled manufacturer with a top-
covers and nacelle covers for offshore wind tur- class facility, is a perfect fit for building techni-
bines from Fassmer Atech Composites Taiwan cal knowledge in spinner and nacelle covers in
(FACT) in what is a major boost for Taiwan’s off- Taiwan. This purchase agreement demonstrates
shore wind supply chain. how we are able to facilitate sustainable locali-
These components will be used at MHI Ves- sation in Taiwan through certainty in volume.”
tas’ Changfang Phase 2, Xidao and Zhong Neng Taiwan is poised to start allocating 10 GW
projects. under the third stage of its huge offshore wind
Changfang Phase 2, comprising 47 turbines programme that has already put 5.5 GW in train
with an installed capacity of 446.5 MW, and by 2025.
Xidao, comprising 5 turbines with an installed “We are delighted to be working with MHI
capacity of 47.5 MW, are set to be installed in Vestas to supply some of the first offshore wind
2023. projects in Taiwan with locally made spinner
The deal adds to MHI Vestas’ list of com- covers and nacelle covers,” said Holger Fassmer,
ponents sourced in Taiwan for the company’s managing director at Fassmer and chairman of
offshore wind project, and is part of the firm’s the board at FACT.
commitments to boost local content and to “Our joint venture with Atech Composites,
develop Taiwan’s manufacturing capacity. and this contract, creates significant value for
NT$9.2bn (circa €264mn) in economic value the offshore wind supply chain in Taiwan. The
for Taiwan derives from localised components. production of spinner covers and nacelle covers
The spinner covers and nacelle covers will for MHI Vestas’ V174 platform will ensure that
be produced for MHI Vestas’ V174 turbines at these components made in Taiwan become glob-
FACT’s facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. ally competitive through consistency in volume.”
Spinner covers and nacelle covers are made Contracts have now been signed by MHI
of a composite glass-fibre material and protect Vestas in Taiwan for local supply of blades, blade
the wind turbine systems from the external envi- materials (bonding glue, resin, pultruded car-
ronment at sea, particularly valuable for the often bon plates), towers, switchgear, rotor hubs, hub
harsh conditions off the coast of Taiwan. plates, nacelle base frames, low voltage cabinets,
“While the offshore wind supply chain is UPS systems, PCM assembly, spinner covers and
advancing in Taiwan through our early projects, nacelle covers, with further local supply chain
creating opportunities for knowledge transfer is contracts planned for 2020.
important,” said Maida Zahirovic, MHI Vestas At present, MHI Vestas is the only wind
Taiwan business director. turbine manufacturer to procure blades, blade
“The joint venture between Fassmer, a materials, switchgear, fasteners and cables from
known supplier for wind products, and Atech within Taiwan.™

Week 36 09•September•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P9