Changhua Coastal Industrial Park in Changhua, Taiwan is one of the major wind farms in Taiwan. Meanwhile, vast flat lands and long sunshine hours make it a potential area for developing solar power generation facilities.
Changhua County’s magistrate Ming-ku Wei visited a solar power plant developed by SOLEQ's, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Equis Group, in Japan as for Changhua County's local renewable energy industry. The County will sign Memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Equis and Equis planned to invest NT $15 billion in Changhua County to develop renewable energy.
Equis is one of the largest renewable energy investors in Asia with a managing capital of up to US$2.7 billion. Equis has invested in up to 3.7 GW of renewable energy assets, in which more than 825 MW are solar assets.
The visited 36MW solar power plant, which is located in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, started commercial operation on September 2. The electricity generated over the next 20 years will be completely sold to Tokyo Electric Power Company.
Foreign and domestic investors are positive to Changhua’s renewable energy opportunities
After Ming-ku Wei led Changhua's delegation to visit the solar power plant in Mito City, SOLEQ agreed to sign the MOU with Changhua Country government and unveiled that it will set up two offices in Taiwan. SOLEQ is predicted to invest in its first solar power plant in Taiwan this year. Furthermore, SOLEQ plans to extend solar power generation systems to rooftops of buildings in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park in the future. Meanwhile, SOLEQ plans to develop and operate 250MW of solar power and wind power plants in Changhua County with an investment of approximately NT$15 billion.
This June, it was reported that Taipower would invest NT$200 billion in Changhua County for developing green energy facilities. Google also chose Changhua as its data centers' location in Taiwan and hoped to procure local green electricity. In addition, Demark's offshore wind power developer DONG Energy planned to invest NT $140 billion in building wind turbines off the shore of Changhua. Changhua has become one of the most notable renewable energy development target for Taiwanese and international companies.
Changhua was evaluated to the best offshore wind farm worldwide by 4C Offshore, an international institute, expressed the County magistrate. Solar power systems located in Changhua generate more electricity than average in Taiwan, demonstrating the county’s blessed and rich resources. Changhua County will continue attracting foreign investors as well as communicating with local residents in order to develop green energy including solar, wind, and biomass. The country government will also encourage local industries to promote renewable energy development together.
(Written by Rhea Tsao; translated by Janet Chen, a translator of TrendForce Corp. Photo source: Changhua County government)