EnBW acquires 37.5 percent stake in each of three offshore wind projects in Taiwan
Staff Writer |
EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg is rigorously pursuing its growth path in renewables and, for the first time, is now targeting international offshore wind markets outside of Europe.
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Together with Australian investor Macquarie Capital and Taiwanese project developer Swancor Renewable, the Company is to press ahead with the development of three offshore wind projects in Taiwan.
For this purpose, EnBW has acquired a 37.5 percent stake in each of three offshore wind projects in Taiwan with a potential total volume of approximately 2,000 MW. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the Cartel Authority in charge.
The new partnership initially focuses on securing grid connection capacity for the three projects in Taiwan’s Changhua region.
Each of the three partners contributes its individual strengths and capabilities, which show an ideal complementary fit: Macquarie Capital as an internationally experienced investor that has a longstanding business relationship with EnBW, Swancor Renewable as the Taiwan-based partner able to contribute its local network and EnBW as an experienced developer and operator of offshore wind farms.
Under the agreed division of responsibilities, EnBW will take on the majority of the technical project development.
For this purpose, EnBW has already provided its own personnel on site in Taiwan for the joint team, which is supported by experts from the EnBW offshore office in Hamburg. A local skilled workforce will is also be established, with employees trained and qualified by EnBW.
EnBW intends to expand renewable energies to form one of the main pillars of its business by 2020.
It is well on track to achieving this: Renewable energies – and notably offshore wind power – already make a key contribution towards implementing its strategic repositioning today.
EnBW also plans to continue driving ahead this expansion beyond 2020 and to further extend its good market position. With a view to long-term growth, EnBW will invest over 5 billion euros in the further expansion of renewables through to 2025.
In the process, it is targeting selective internationalisation as a supplement to its core market of Germany.
Taiwan holds strong potential for renewable energies. After deciding to phase out nuclear power by 2025 – with nuclear energy accounting for some 40 percent of power generation in the past – Taiwan aims to make up for the resulting shortfall by expanding renewable energies and most of all offshore wind power.
Taiwan has set ambitious targets in this regard: 5.5 GW of Offshore wind power is to be ready by 2025. Allocation of the necessary grid connection capacity is planned for the first half of 2018. ■