Swancor to supply MHI Vestas with wind blade materials in Taiwan

Lars Bondo Krogsgaard, MHI Vestas Co-CEO, and Robert Tsai, Chairman from Swancor Holding Co., sign contract for the supply of materials used in blade manufacturing. Source | MHI Vestas

Swancor (Nan-Tou City, Taiwan) signed and agreement for local production of blade materials with the possibility of export to supply MHI Vestas (Aarhus, Denmark) globally. MHI Vestas confirmed a key localization component today in Taiwan as it signed a contract with Swancor for the supply of materials used in blade manufacturing. The conditional agreement is the second for MHI Vestas in Taiwan following the contract for local tower production signed in October 2018 with CS Wind (Taichung, Taiwan)/Chin Fong (Changhua, Taiwan).

The scope of the Swancor contract goes substantially beyond local requirements for blade materials and covers more than 50% of the direct materials value of blade manufacturing (including carbon tow, carbon pultrusion, resin, and bonding glue), representing a significant step forward for MHI Vestas’ localization efforts and Swancor’s entry into the offshore wind sector. The agreement also holds the prospect of global supply for all MHI Vestas projects.

“Signing this agreement with Swancor underlines our strong commitment to the Taiwan offshore wind market and the buildup of a sustainable supply chain,” says Lars Bondo Krogsgaard, MHI Vestas Co-CEO. “With local production of blade materials now confirmed, with the potential for global supply, we will continue to advance our localization agenda to ensure that we are ready to deliver on our first projects in the market.”

To support the blade materials agreement with MHI Vestas, Swancor announced a new joint venture is in the planning stages, noting that it is considering a partnership with Formosa Plastics Corp. (Taipei City, Taiwan).

“The cooperation between Swancor and MHI Vestas will create a significant milestone for Taiwan wind turbine blade materials,” says Robert Tsai, Chairman from Swancor Holding Co. Ltd. “Swancor is also evaluating a joint venture agreement with Formosa Plastics Corporation to establish a carbon fiber material production base in Taiwan. The joint venture looks to become the first hub in Asia to provide wind turbine blade materials for MHI Vestas globally, and it’s all being done early to achieve the government’s goal of offshore wind power localization and to expand employment opportunities.”

MHI Vestas is in line to provide its 9 MW platform for three upcoming projects in the Taiwan offshore wind market.