The 2016 Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation Mission, organized by the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on August 19, 2016 with three U.S. companies in Houston, Texas, in an attempt to create new opportunities in green energy between Taiwan and the U.S.
Witnessed by Dr. Ming-ji Wu, the Director General of the IDB, who heads the Mission, delegation members including China Steel Corporation (CSC), the Taiwan Wind Turbine Industry Association (TWTIA), the CR Classification Society, and the Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation Promotion Office (TUSA), MOEA, inked the MOU with ABSG Consulting Inc., Keystone Engineering, and Principle Power Inc. of the U.S. The MOU targets the certification of projects regarding the construction of off-shore wind farms, as well as technologies regarding fixed and floating foundations for off-shore wind turbines. It will also help Taiwan build its capacity in off-shore wind power generation-related industries.
Wu stressed the significance of the signing, adding that the MOU will catalyze cooperation among related companies from Taiwan and the U.S.
Wu further pointed out that, with the absence of domestic regulations on and experiences in off-shore wind farm certification, Taiwan hopes to acquire related technologies through the cooperation and quicken its pace in launching off-shore wind farms.
Sean Wang, CEO of the Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation Promotion Office, said the signing of the MOU will not only be conducive to the introduction of technologies in the certification and building of off-shore wind farms, it will also help both sides work together to explore business opportunities in the global wind power industry.
Tsung-wen Huang, Chief Secretary of the Taiwan Wind Turbine Industry Association, said that ABSG Consulting Inc. is one of the world’s major certification organizations of off-shore wind farm projects, and has been providing assistance to the U.S. government. Keystone Engineering has outstanding technologies to build large-scale off-shore fixed foundations for wind turbines, while off-shore floating foundations for wind turbines designed by Principle Power are now in operation. The signing of the MOU marks a milestone in the cooperation of renewable energy between Taiwan and the U.S.