Taiwan International Windpower Training Corporation (TIWTC) and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to collaborate on establishing Global Wind Organization (GWO) training center in Taichung, Taiwan.
Siemens Gamesa is preparing for the installation of the turbines at the Formosa 1 Phase 2 offshore wind farm in 2019 and was awarded preferred supplier for the Yunlin offshore wind power project.
With the latest LoI, the company is now setting the course to meet its future need for qualified offshore wind technicians to install and service the upcoming projects.
The new non-binding LoI covers the collaboration of TIWTC and Siemens Gamesa on the implementation of international GWO training programs. Siemens Gamesa also intends to use the center for the training of its staff in Taiwan. A timeline has not been set for finalization of the cooperation agreement.
“It is excellent news that there will be a GWO training center in Taiwan. This can become a driver in creating long term local value for the region,” said Niels Steenberg , Siemens Gamesa’s General Manager for offshore in the APAC region.
“With a confirmed order for 2019, and having already been selected preferred supplier in the later years, we will soon need to train our technicians. Being able to do so in Taichung would be the ideal scenario.”
TIWTC was established earlier in May 2018, as a joint-venture between TIPC, Taiwan Power Company (TPC), CWind Taiwan, China Steel Corporation (CSC), China Ship Building Corporation (CSBC), and Swancor Renewable Energy Co. (Swancor). The company’s purpose is to set up a GWO training center in Taichung harbour, in order to provide courses to domestic and international wind power industry personnel. Start of construction is planned for Q3 2018, in order to enable the beginning of trial operations as soon as Q1 2019.
Chung Yingfeng , the chairman of TIWTC, said: “The collaboration established through this Letter of Intent will help bringing the training courses closer to the needs of the industry. Thanks to the practical track record of SGRE and their experience with regards to health, safety and environment (HSE), we expect to improve our personnel training service in order to cultivate local talents for offshore wind energy operations.”
Back in 2017, Siemens Gamesa engaged with Taichung International Ports Corporation (TIPC) for the preparation of the Taichung harbour for offshore wind business, and later with Yeong Guan Energy Technology Group and Swancor Holding Co. in order to build up the local supply chain.