BlueFloat Energy has entered into strategic collaboration agreements with the Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center (SOIC) and the CR Classification Society in Taiwan, positioning itself for the bid preparation for Taiwan’s floating wind demonstration programme.

These partnerships are set to bolster BlueFloat Energy’s project development efforts in the region.

The company has also formalised a memorandum of understanding with National Taiwan University’s Ocean Center to conduct a comprehensive morpho-dynamic study for its Winds of September project.

This study is crucial for understanding the unique environmental conditions of Taiwan’s marine landscape – essential for the design and analysis of floating offshore wind systems.

BlueFloat Energy’s latest agreements are a continuation of the initial collaboration with SOIC, which began in 2023.

The new agreement, signed at the Energy Taiwan conference, focuses on the design and analysis of floating offshore wind systems specifically tailored to the Taiwanese environment.

This includes addressing the challenges posed by the local marine environment and regulatory framework.

The studies to be conducted will cover the region’s geography, climate and the specific requirements needed for floating offshore wind in Taiwan.

The insights gained from this research will directly contribute to the employer requirements for system design, paving the way for BlueFloat Energy’s participation in the upcoming floating wind demonstration programme.

Michael Pinkerton, BlueFloat Energy country manager for Taiwan, stated: “Since entering the market, we have been actively engaging with the Taiwanese government, industry and academia to drive technological advancements, particularly for floating wind technologies.

“In August, we just announced that the Winds of September project Phase 1 – located off the coast of Hsinchu City – will install up to 12 floating platforms with an expected installed capacity of 180MW.

“We will continue to prepare for the upcoming demo tender, expected to be launched later this year, and look forward to bringing innovation to Taiwan.”

In September 2024, BlueFloat Energy signed a MoU with China’s Dajin Heavy Industry to advance innovation and sustainability in the floating wind supply chain.