Changfang & Xidao Offshore Wind Farms and Zhongneng Offshore Wind Farm announced that construction on the operations and maintenance (O/M) center of Changfang & Xidao and Zhongneng Wind Farms for the next 20 years was officially completed on 5/18.
Not only is this wind farm O/M center first in the Asia-Pacific region, but it is also the first offshore wind power O/M center led by developers, setting standards for localization of Taiwan's offshore wind power operation and maintenance and the construction index of Changhua.
The Changfang & Xidao and Zhongneng Wind Farm O/M center was initiated by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and started construction in July 2020. The turnkey project was undertaken by REIJU Construction Co., Ltd. and CECI Engineering Consultants Inc. Taiwan to conduct professional construction management work. In order to implement "Changhua" and promote local economic development, during the construction process of thew O/M center, a large number of construction and supervision professionals, construction equipment and materials were entrusted to the local team in Changhua and the proportion of local participation reached 80%. Improving construction efficiency also indirectly reduces the amount of carbon emissions generated in the construction process and serves as an indicator for the localization of Taiwan's offshore wind power operation and maintenance.
The Changfang & Xidao and Zhongneng Wind Farm O/M center is built and located in the Changhua Binhai Industrial Zone, with a total area of about 2,200 ping and the main internal facilities include the maritime coordination and dispatch center, the wind farm asset management and operation control center, temperature and humidity controllable storage space for various spare parts required by the wind farm, and the environmental education site. In terms of staffing, there will be more than 100 people in the two wind farms including technicians responsible for 24-hour monitoring of wind farm feedback information and wind turbine operation status, asset management teams, and maintenance technicians who go to sea to perform above-water and underwater operation and maintenance operations.
The completion of Changfang & Xidao and Zhongneng Wind Farm O/M center is in line with the county government’s pace and spirit in developing Changhua’s offshore wind power operation and maintenance port. It is confident that after the wind farm is officially put into operation, it will bring together land, sea, and air transportation, information and communication software, mechanical engineering , electrical engineering, civil engineering, wind farm education and training and business opportunities in the local service industry.
Dennis Sanou, CEO of Changfang & Xidao Offshore Wind Power Project, said that during the construction of the Changfang & Xidao Wind Farm O/M center with a total construction period of 380 days, the planning team, RUIJU Construction and Taiwan CECI not only established good communication and construction management, policies were completed on schedule and with “zero occupational disasters.” Local suppliers also absorbed CIP’s overseas wind farm operation and maintenance experience and learned the project management capabilities of the offshore wind power industry, so as to grow into the role of an international-standard operation and maintenance supply chain. Under the circumstance that all the resources such as the ground system and equipment for the operation of the Changfang & Xidao Wind Farm are in place, technology and knowledge will be transferred from this base in the future and the localization of operation and maintenance will be implemented. However, the current port breakwater project and dredging operations have not yet been completed, making it impossible to open the port. All central government agencies, including the Agriculture Committee and the Fisheries Department, are working together with the Changhua County Government to ensure that the port project is completed as soon as possible. The Changfang & Xidao Project has also made every effort to provide all relevant resources and it looks forward to the successful completion of the port opening before the end of 2022 with the concerted efforts of all parties.
Marina Hsu, Managing Director of CIP Taiwan, said that the completion of the Changfang & Xidao Wind Farm and Zhongneng Wind Farm O/M center not only represents the implementation of the localization of Taiwan's offshore wind power operation and maintenance, but also the beginning of the common prosperity of Changhua Fishery and Electricity. If combined with a well-established operation and maintenance port of Changhua in the future, it will form a fishing port in the north of Changhua Port and an operation and maintenance terminal for offshore wind power in the south.
Joris Hol, CEO of the Zhongneng Offshore Wind Power Program, said that the construction of the Zhongneng Offshore Wind Farm will be completed in 2024 and the operation and maintenance of the wind farm will be carried out for more than 20 years. Zhongneng is looking forward to building a living space with Changhua after completing the O/M center and combining the wind power operation and maintenance industry chain and the operation of the port area.
（Image：CIP）