Orsted has completed major construction works on the 920 MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan, moving the large-scale renewable energy project closer to full commercial operation in late Q3 2026.
The project consists of 66 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 DD offshore wind turbines of 14 MW each across an approximately 185 sq km site located 35–60 km off Changhua County. Water depths across the project range from 23.8 metres to 44.1 metres.
The completion follows the approximately 900 MW Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms, which entered operation in 2024. Together, Orsted’s Greater Changhua offshore wind cluster now represents 1.82 GW of capacity, enough to generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately two million Taiwanese households.
The latest milestone also advances Orsted’s global 8.1 GW offshore wind construction programme.
66 Offshore Wind Turbines Installed in 275 Days
Offshore construction of Greater Changhua 2b and 4 started in February 2025, while turbine installation began in April 2025.
According to Orsted’s update on the installation of all 66 turbines at Greater Changhua 2b and 4, Siemens Gamesa completed the turbine installation campaign using Cadeler’s newly built Wind Maker installation vessel.
All 66 turbines were installed within 275 days, despite difficult weather conditions and relatively short offshore construction windows in the Taiwan Strait.
The SG 14-236 turbines have 115-metre blades, with Orsted describing Greater Changhua 2b and 4 as the world’s first offshore wind farms to install 14 MW turbines with 115-metre-long blades.
The installation recorded approximately 131,576 offshore working hours with zero lost-time injuries.
Greater Changhua Uses 66 Suction Bucket Jacket Foundations
Foundation technology is another significant feature of the project. Greater Changhua 2b and 4 is the first offshore wind development in Asia-Pacific to deploy piling-free suction bucket jacket foundations at scale.
All 66 turbines are supported by suction bucket jacket foundations. The technology eliminates conventional foundation piling and keeps installation-related underwater noise close to background levels.
Greater Changhua 2b accounts for 24 turbines and 337.1 MW, while Greater Changhua 4 comprises 42 turbines and 582.9 MW, taking their combined capacity to 920 MW.
The technology forms part of Orsted’s strategy to reduce the environmental impact of offshore construction while demonstrating foundation alternatives that could be deployed on future offshore wind developments.
345 kV Grid Connection Sets Taiwan Offshore Wind Milestone
Greater Changhua 2b and 4 also introduces significant transmission infrastructure.
The energisation of the Greater Changhua 2b 345 kV onshore substation established Taiwan’s first offshore wind farm connection using a 345 kV high-voltage transmission system.
Taiwan’s offshore wind industry had previously relied primarily on 161 kV transmission systems. The higher voltage is designed to improve transmission efficiency and support the movement of large volumes of offshore renewable electricity into Taiwan’s power network.
Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation and its subsidiary Star Energy Corporation were responsible for engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the project’s onshore transmission system.
More than 80 percent of the onshore substation EPC contract was expected to be executed by Taiwanese subcontractors, supporting approximately 1,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.
First Power Achieved in July 2025
The project reached another important milestone when the first turbine started delivering electricity to Taiwan’s national grid in July 2025.
Orsted achieved first power from the 920 MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 project just around three months after the first foundation was installed in April 2025.
At the first-power milestone, all 66 suction bucket jacket foundations and 32 wind turbines had already been installed. Two onshore substations and one offshore substation had also been energised.
Orsted subsequently completed all 66 turbine installations, array cable installation and other major offshore construction activities. Remaining work is focused largely on commissioning, testing and completing contractual and regulatory requirements ahead of commercial operation in late Q3 2026.
TSMC Secures Renewable Power Under 20-Year Agreement
Greater Changhua 2b and 4 is also significant because its entire electricity output is backed by a long-term corporate renewable energy agreement.
Orsted secured the project’s revenues through a 20-year fixed-price corporate power purchase agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) signed in July 2020.
The TSMC corporate power purchase agreement for Greater Changhua covers the full production of the 920 MW development, providing renewable electricity to support the semiconductor company’s decarbonisation strategy.
Greater Changhua 2b and 4 was originally awarded 920 MW of grid capacity in June 2018 through Taiwan’s first competitive price-based offshore wind auction. Orsted subsequently reached final investment decision in March 2023.
The combination of a 20-year corporate offtake agreement and large-scale offshore generation makes the development an important example of renewable energy infrastructure being built around industrial electricity demand.
Cathay Investment Expands Green Finance Role
Taiwanese institutional capital has also become an important component of the Greater Changhua investment structure.
The 583 MW Greater Changhua 4 offshore wind farm is co-owned 50 percent by Orsted and 50 percent by Cathay Life Insurance.
The transaction covering the 50 percent Greater Changhua 4 interest had a total value of approximately DKK 11.6 billion, including Cathay’s commitment to fund 50 percent of payments under the project’s EPC contract.
Orsted is also deepening the partnership through Greater Changhua 2. Cathay Life and affiliate Cathay Power have agreed to acquire a 55 percent ownership stake in the 632 MW Greater Changhua 2 offshore wind farm, which combines the operational Greater Changhua 2a with Greater Changhua 2b.
The transaction is expected to close following commissioning of Greater Changhua 2b.
Financing support from 30 domestic and international financial institutions demonstrates growing lender and institutional investor appetite for Taiwan’s offshore wind infrastructure.
Greater Changhua Cluster Reaches 1.82 GW
The completion of major construction at Greater Changhua 2b and 4 represents the culmination of a decade of Orsted investment in Taiwan since the company established its first local office in 2016.
Greater Changhua 2b and 4 adds 920 MW to the approximately 900 MW Greater Changhua 1 and 2a development, bringing the overall cluster to 1.82 GW.
The combined Greater Changhua portfolio is capable of generating renewable electricity equivalent to the consumption of nearly two million Taiwanese households and could contribute to avoiding approximately 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Orsted will support the offshore assets through its operations and maintenance hub at the Port of Taichung, creating long-term local infrastructure for operating the 1.82 GW portfolio.
With 66 turbines, 920 MW of capacity, a 20-year TSMC power agreement, a pioneering 345 kV grid connection and the first large-scale deployment of suction bucket jacket foundations in Asia-Pacific, Greater Changhua 2b and 4 is emerging as an important reference project for Taiwan’s next phase of offshore wind development.
SHAFANA FAZAL