NTU HIGHLIGHTS

Amid the global consensus on the transition to net zero by 2050, renewable energy plays a pivotal role. Capitalizing on the Taiwan Strait’s favorable conditions for wind farms, the Taiwanese government aims to reach 5.7 GW of cumulative offshore wind power capacity by 2025—enough to generate 21.52 billion kWh of clean electricity annually, thereby supplying power to 5.6 million households. This plan is projected to create over 20,000 jobs, paving the way for net zero carbon emissions, energy independence, and industrial infrastructure upgrades in Taiwan. As a leading research institution in the Asia-Pacific region’s offshore wind power industry, NTU has been at the forefront of this field for years.

To nurture talent, NTU initiated the Offshore Wind Power Credit Program in 2018 and partnered with the Netherlands in the Taiwan-Netherlands Offshore Wind Joint Talent Cultivation Cooperation in 2020. These efforts involve training local seed instructors and accelerating the talent development required for Taiwan’s offshore wind power industry. Collaborating with government agencies and other higher education institutions, NTU also plans talent development programs to address demands across a diversity of industries through core technology development and high-level management training.

Further, NTU has collaborated with CSBC Corporation Taiwan and the Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center to develop the TaidaFloat—a 100% domestically-produced semi-submersible floating platform with a robust mooring system. The TaidaFloat can withstand a typhoon with a 50-year return period and remain stable during extreme weather conditions. Unlike traditional fixed-foundation wind turbines, this platform does not require seabed piles and can be deployed in waters at depths exceeding 60 meters, vastly expanding the potential for offshore wind power. Moreover, it is more environmentally friendly for marine ecosystems by eliminating noise pollution from pile-driving. With the TaidaFloat’s development, NTU aims to establish Taiwan as an Asia-Pacific pioneer in floating offshore wind power, standing shoulder to shoulder with Europe.

Given Taiwan’s unique advantage in offshore wind power development, this sector will play a pivotal role in the country’s journey to net zero. Serving as a hub for talent and technological research, NTU continues to contribute to the advancement of Taiwan’s offshore wind power industry.