TRENA TALKS Ep. 04: “Taiwan needs Offshore Wind and Offshore Wind needs Taiwan”

Host: Raoul Kubitschek, Chairman,  Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance

Co-Host: Y.D. Chang Yadun, vice chairwoman, Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance

Guest: Elvin Sng, Group Managing Director & Head of Asia and Middle East, Jumbo Consulting part of Turner & Townsend, Co-Chair UK Renewables Committee, British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei

Guest: Matt Bowden, Senior Commercial Manager APAC, Cadeler, Co-Chair UK Renewables Committee, British Chamber of Commerce Taipei

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Raoul:

Welcome to the 4th edition of TRENA Talks! It’s Halloween, the last day of October—but this is not going to be a spooky episode. I’m delighted to welcome Matt and Elvin, Co-Chairs of the UK Renewables Committee at the British Chamber of Commerce Taipei. Both have been deeply involved in Taiwan’s offshore wind sector, since it has been involved nearly from the beginning. Today we’ll discuss the good work of the Chamber and the activities of British companies in Taiwan’s renewable energy market.

Before we dive in, YD will give us a quick update – Energy Taiwan, the renewable energy community congregated in Taipei.

YD:

This year, although there were slightly fewer exhibitors compared to last year, it provided a wonderful opportunity to explore more thoroughly, reconnect with old friends, share experiences, and exchange fresh ideas and insights. While the wind sector may be experiencing a slight slowdown, the broader energy transition industry continues to grow steadily.

Raoul:

Before we dive into the big topics today –how about Matt and Elvin introduce yourself. Your background, what brought you to Taiwan, your career in Offshore Wind.

Elvin: 

It’s been eight years now since my offshore-wind career brought me to Taiwan.—I oversaw key offshore-wind projects as the company expanded its presence in the market. I later joined JUMBO Consulting Group as Managing Director for Asia and the Middle East, leading regional operations and providing contract and procurement advisory services for major offshore-wind developments across the region.

Matt: 

I have been in Taiwan for 13 years. As Senior Commercial Manager, APAC at Cadeler, I oversee commercial strategy and business development across the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan. Over the years, I’ve been closely involved in Taiwanese offshore wind projects, a rewarding journey full of challenges and excitement at every step.”

Raoul:

Both of you were elected last month to be Co-Chair of the UKRC Committee. The UKRC is very active in the renewable energy space – can you tell our listeners what UKRC is doing and what are your topics for your term? Who can become the member?

Matt:

I’ve been involved with the UK Renewables Committee (UKRC) since its early days. From the start, the goal was to bring the offshore wind community together—to create a space for conversation, networking, and engagement with the government, while extending our lobbying efforts through the ECCT. Many UK companies involved the offshore wind sector in Taiwan, representing a wide range of capabilities. UKRC provides a great platform to connect supply chains and enter the market.

Elvin:

I came up with the slogan, “Taiwan needs offshore wind, and offshore wind needs Taiwan.” Inspired by Taiwan’s energy transition plan, I believe offshore wind plays a vital role in achieving the nation’s net-zero goals. Since taking up my position at UKRC, I’ve developed a strong passion for Taiwan’s offshore wind sector. The industry holds tremendous potential — not only for advancing renewable energy, but also for driving collaboration between academia and industry, and for strengthening partnerships across the nation.

Last week, I was in Vietnam speaking with a similar British Chamber working group. They were all eager to learn from Taiwan’s offshore wind experience — both the successes and the challenges. Our goal is to help our members expand into the Vietnamese market while sharing Taiwan’s valuable knowledge and lessons to support the growth of Vietnam’s offshore wind sector.

Since we began, we have closely aligned our efforts with the UK government to focus on floating wind section cooperation. Recently, I participated in the floating wind session hosted by the British Embassy, where I had the opportunity to discuss with Deputy Director Chen, how we can support the transition from fixed-bottom to floating offshore wind. We also explored how UK companies can contribute their expertise to accelerate this transition.

One of our new initiatives focuses on strengthening academic collaboration. Together with Professor Cheng, Dean of NTU, we have been actively promoting knowledge exchange between universities and industry. This program now involves five universities and takes place twice a year, engaging more than 100 students each time. Through these sessions, industry experts share valuable insights, and we look forward to encouraging even greater participation from UKRC members in this collaboration.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UK–Taiwan energy partnership, bringing extensive cross-border dialogue. The UK Trade Officer hopes to advance the agenda on energy security, with UK–Taiwan collaboration as a key pillar. She plans to host discussions at her residence and include me and permanent UKRC members, providing more opportunities to engage with Taiwanese government and stakeholders, and explore how we can jointly drive a stronger, shared agenda.

Raoul:

The UK is now a major offshore wind market, with Scotland’s floating offshore wind sector among the world’s most well-planned and promising regions. Many UK professionals have brought their experience to Taiwan, making this an excellent platform for dialogue—not only for governments, but also for industry collaboration.

Matt:

Regarding the successful internship program, this has been one of the most exciting and meaningful parts for me. It is crucial for the industry to engage young people and inspire university students in Taiwan to join the renewable energy sector. After five years, it was fantastic to see at least three former interns who are now still working in the industry in a position of significant responsibility. Watching their journey from students to professionals contributing real value is truly rewarding. I’m very excited about this program—it’s a healthy and impactful program. The offshore wind training assessments are great fun, especially when everyone ends up in the pool, fully soaked.

Raoul:

2025 has been a very active installation year for Taiwan, with many projects reaching key milestones or connecting to the grid. Over the next two years, we will likely see the closure of what is known as Round 2. CIP’s Fengmiao 1 has successfully entered construction, and SRE’s Formosa 4 appears to be moving forward based on supplier announcements. EDF Power Solutions also made progress by signing a PPA with TSEE for the Wei Lan Hai Changhua off-shore wind project. Yet, compared with the original timelines, major uncertainties remain—particularly for Round 3.2, which still lacks clarity, as well as the absence of announcements for Round 3.3 and Floating Wind.

This raises a fundamental question: where do we currently stand, and what obstacles must be addressed to bring Taiwan’s offshore wind roadmap back on track?

Elvin:

If I may be candid, we are currently at a “deep peak” and need to work closely with stakeholders across Taiwan. The past two years have been politically challenging, with limited support and attention from Taiwan’s energy policy. Round 3.1 has been struggling, only Fengmiao 1 has proceeded and reached financial close, while Round 3.2 continues to struggle. Even though there’s limited space left to maneuver with floating wind, if the goal is 10 GW, then floating wind is unquestionably required.

As a UKRC member, it’s crucial that all chambers, trade offices, SEMI, and TRENA work together to advance Taiwan’s offshore wind future. The focus should not only be on supply chains but also on developing CPPA offtakers to ensure sustainable offshore wind development.

I’ve been traveling quite a bit recently throughout the region, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. In Japan, for example, when Mitsubishi announced its first round of shutdown, it could trigger a domino effect, yet nothing significant happened over the following three years. This shows that Taiwan is not in a bad state. We simply need to keep pushing forward, address the various challenges ahead, and ensure that everyone continues working together.

One thing we sometimes forget is that while developers work to bring construction projects to COD, these projects also require strong support from the government. Quick decisions and flexible policies are essential. Of course, we must discuss how flexible we can be—ensuring fairness to developers who bid under existing rules—so finding the right balance is important. In general, offshore wind development in any country requires government support. Taiwan continues to lead in offshore wind development; Taiwan government needs to do even more as well as stakeholders.

Matt:

In many respects, Taiwan has done so much—and done it well. Despite the challenges across different projects, there are already many turbines installed and spinning in the water. As Elvin mentioned, I also cover the region, including Korea, Japan, and Australia. I want to emphasize to everyone that Taiwan is building real projects, and it’s truly impressive to see what we have achieved over the years.

I feel that the industry in Taiwan is facing a near-panic moment right now. At the moment, large-scale projects, including Changhua and Hai Long, are happening currently, but in many respects, it feels like we are moving backward. This is clearly a challenge that we need to solve together. Right now, we need to connect a lot of capacity to the grid this year and next. Beyond that, however, we need to wrap things up and find a way to get the boost back.

Raoul:

Do you think the government needs to set deadlines for phases 3.1 and 3.2? You mentioned Mitsubishi—they undercut the market, and this was before COVID. Something similar happened with Taiwanese projects. If 3.3 is used to put pressure on 3.1 and 3.2, and it could also endanger them—they might think 3.3 is cheaper and shift their focus.

Elvin:

I think the government is doing a lot now to support the aggregators, so sending a strong signal to the CPPA market, which government is willing to assist with credit and the long-term nature of CPPA offtakers. I still believe more can be done. We need all projects, even local suppliers, they need more projects. We also need to educate CPPA buyers that this is the future for net-zero, AI and renewable energy as well. CPPA development projects must be pushed forward—if 3.1 and 3.2 don’t succeed, there will be no 3.3.

Using 3.3 as leverage may be intended to put pressure on 3.1 and 3.2 — otherwise, nothing will happen. While many expect 3.3 to be announced this year, when I spoke with Deputy Chen, he indicated that discussions will take place this year, with any action likely deferred to next year. This situation is not unique to Taiwan; similar cases have occurred in Europe, where wind farm projects were withdrawn, and in the US as well. Taiwan’s offshore wind industry needs strong support. If the government decides to pursue this path, it must take concrete steps to ensure these projects are viable.”

YD:

In the good old days, the market was well-structured, offering solid experience and a strong historical foundation. When things went wrong, it wasn’t really on us — companies were performing well, and everyone was learning valuable lessons. Today, the economic landscape has shifted, leaving us wondering: how do we regain that momentum, and what key pieces are missing? It’s genuinely puzzling.

Raoul:

It’s puzzling when it comes to industry offtakers. While they have demand, they may hesitate to pay the price and are often confused by the situation, seeing both the projects and the challenges. Fengmiao Phase 1 offshore wind farm managed this well, finding many buyers, providing value experiences.

I had a discussion with a competitor the other day, and everything was going great until last year. Companies were hiring more people and seeing success, but suddenly it all changed. Now the question is how to get through this uncertainty and hope for a better outcome in 2026 and 2027.

YD:

Perhaps one more slogan: “How to turn auction into action.” It’s also fascinating to see Japan and Korea’s wind associations participating in Taiwan Energy Week. Although these markets started later, they have strong ambitions. While they are learning from Taiwan’s experience, Taiwan can also gain valuable insights from Japan and Korea in the near future.”

Elvin:

Ten years ago, I traveled to Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, and Taiwan picked up very quickly. Japan and Korea have lagged behind, but Korea has had many project options. However, having options is different from actually building wind farms. Still, Korea has many options and shows strong ambitions. We can expect continued growth there, with many developments and plans underway.

In Japan, Mitsubishi’s actions raised concerns about a domino effect, and round 2 development is struggling. I am a bit pessimistic about Japan, but they have a strong drive for floating wind, investing heavily in R&D and learning from Europe. Perhaps Japan sees floating wind as the future, which is why they are focusing on it.

The Philippines is working to accelerate offshore wind policy and a central coordinating body within the industry to streamline development during the current presidential term. As part of these efforts, they plan to send a delegation to Taiwan to learn from our experience and best practices in offshore wind development.

Matt:

There is so much that other markets and regions can learn from Taiwan—both from our mistakes and from what we have done well. In my view, government-to-government is challenging because of political factors, but we can all learn from each other.

There are big differences between the markets. I’m pessimistic about Japan, but Korea has fantastic opportunities. However, like Taiwan, Korea is grappling with the issue of Chinese content. In fact, if you look at the projects currently being built, many are fully supported by Chinese financing and supply chains, while the Korean-developed projects are not progressing. How Korea resolves this challenge is a major question at this point.

Elvin:

One more point to add: floating wind can begin to leverage regional supply chains, and Taiwan has done quite well in this regard—Vietnamese and Korean foundations. No country excels in every area, so sharing supply chains and energy resources makes sense. There are ongoing discussions about transferring renewable energy from the Philippines to southern Taiwan, connecting renewable energy from Indonesia, and even bringing Vietnam’s offshore wind and solar to Singapore—and potentially to Taiwan as well. There are significant opportunities in regional supply chains and cross-border transmission.

Raoul:

What developments have taken place in Taichung’s offshore wind sector? What aspects of the development have been executed successfully, and what challenges still need to be overcome?”

Matt:

Taiwan has done fantastically well with its vessel development. It has multiple types of vessels for different scopes. Building the fleet was extremely difficult, as the country had to start marine construction almost from scratch — yet Taiwan achieved it. In contrast, countries like Belgium have decades, even a century, of marine engineering experience to build upon.”

Taiwan started from a very different place and has done very well. The cabotage regulations in the region are quite clear: in Taiwan, priority is given to local vessels. However, if there are no suitable local vessels available, foreign vessels can still be brought in. This means projects actually get built, but it creates a chicken-and-egg situation — you need projects in order to commit building vessels.”

In Korea and Japan, cabotage rules require foreign‑flagged vessels to re‑flag or obtain a special permit, making it hard for international ships to operate. In my view, Korea and Japan could learn from Taiwan’s more flexible approach. For instance, Taiwan’s Formosa fleet includes about 35 different vessels — and not all are Taiwan‑flagged. While this may not be a headline issue now, such limitations could become a serious obstacle for the industry’s progress.

Elvin:

When I first helped implement policy in Taiwan, there was a minimum requirement for sea vessels. Foreign vessel owners, accustomed to foreign crews, faced challenges in meeting these rules. While foreign vessels could still be brought in, they had to comply with these minimum standards. We engaged universities like Hai Da and Gao Ke Da, which had no prior offshore wind experience, while competing with large operators such as Evergreen. Later, policy changed, they removed these requirements, allowing companies to pay a protection fee instead. This shift reduced hands-on experience for local vessel companies, and also highlights the importance of robust education and training programs in order to develop Taiwan’ marine skills and expertise development.

Matt/Elvin:

Training programs are crucial for the offshore wind industry. Even though construction projects are temporary, typically lasting 1–2 years, they provide an opportunity to bring people from outside the industry and develop a skilled talent pool. These programs help grow the workforce for the long term, preparing both blue-collar and white-collar workers for future opportunities in Taiwan, as well as in Korea and Japan. Initiatives such as RECOA and GWO offer high-quality training and help ensure that workers can continue to find related jobs and remain in the industry.

Conclusion:

Taiwan’s offshore wind industry has developed from scratch, grown rapidly, and is performing very well, establishing a strong reputation in Asia. With increasing activities expected in the future, there is a growing need for skilled personnel and expanded training programs. Taiwan’s approach provides valuable lessons for other countries on balancing policy, local capability, and workforce development.