Wind turbines are considered the world’s biggest machines and they are an essential source of energy for nations that want to decarbonise and attain their green energy industry goals. However, the installation of these giant machines — and those to follow after — could be slowed down by a global deficiency of shipping vessels that can install the next era of power-generating wind turbines out to sea. Knowing all this, Taiwan has launched Green Jade, its first offshore wind installation vessel.
A launching ceremony was held in Kaohsiung recently for the “Green Jade,” Taiwan’s first floating, heavy lift and installation vessel for offshore wind facilities. Indeed, this sets a milestone for the local shipbuilding industry. What marked the occasion, even more, is the fact that the vessel itself was built by the country’s indigenous people.
The ceremony marked the transfer of the Green Jade to water for the first time. Accordingly, the chairman of the company that built the vessel detailed the ship was expected to be fully operational by the spring of 2023.
Moreover, the company’s leader disclosed that the ship was the first to be engineered, designed and built in the country capable of transporting and installing huge, multi-megawatt offshore wind power turbines and other components. He specified that it will serve a couple of Taiwan’s offshore wind projects.
The builders of Gren Jade detailed that the 216.5-meter long vessel, with a 4,000 metric ton capacity crane and DP3 (dynamic positioning) capability, was named after Taiwan’s highest peak, Yushan (Jade Mountain). This reflects Green Jade’s projected contributions to bringing clean, green energy to Taiwan.
At the launching ceremony, Premier Su Tseng-chang called the launching of the Green Jade a “milestone” for Taiwan’s ability to develop a green energy industry. Su said that with 16 of the world’s 20 most ideal wind sites in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan will benefit from the advancements that will come with the Green Jade to help move the country toward its 2050 net-zero emissions pledge.
According to the Global Offshore Wind Speeds Ranking, the top six offshore wind sites either under development or in use with the fastest wind speeds are in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northwestern Africa. Fifteen of the next 20 top wind speeds, however, are in the Taiwan Strait.
Speaking at the ceremony, the project director said there were barely a handful of ships whose specifications could match those of the Green Jade, and they tend to be docked in Europe before being deployed around the world. Given those circumstances, creating an indigenous Taiwanese vessel was an important achievement because it could serve other Asian countries in the future, Kanaar said.
Green energy is good news for Taiwan’s digital transformation. Not only does it mean more power generated, but it also speaks of cleaner energy that would be helpful in the country’s fights against climate change. Most importantly, it means a better healthy environment for Taiwanese and for everyone on the planet.
It shows the great leadership potential Taiwan has in the green energy industry. The prospects of that can boost its bid as a digital powerhouse in the region and in the world. Already, it has fortified its role as an ICT hub in Asia. That should give the island nation better chances in strengthening its major semiconductor industry as robots and self-driving cars become a mainstay in the car industry as reported on OpenGov Asia.
