MIRDC recently signed a MOU with ClassNK on cooperation of the renewable energy industry. Under the witness of industry, official, academia, and research delegates, the MOU was signed by MIRDC’s chairman Tsai Ming-Chi and ClassNK’s president Ueda Noboru.
The purpose of this MOU is to announce the cooperative project in the development of wind turbine standards and provide wind turbine testing and certification services, especially in the area of typhoon and earthquake resistant standards, testing and certification services. This cooperation intends to speed up the development of Taiwan’s wind turbine industry and ensure the safety of off-shore wind farm.
In 2013, MIRDC signed a MOU for small and medium sized wind turbine standard test sites with ClassNK under the witness of the Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection (BSMI). Since then, both parties have established a good partnership relationship. As part of the cooperation, test reports from the Cigu test site, which was established by the BSMI and MIRDC, will no longer need to be verified by ClassNK on site. Makers submit the design evaluation report only for a ClassNK small wind turbine certification report. This can significantly simplify procedures when makers apply for Japanese certifications.
To cooperate with domestic off-shore wind power industry, MIRDC, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology and BSMI, implements off-shore wind turbine standard and machine testing technology projects. MIRDC locates land near the Taichung Port Special Electric Power Area II to build a localized off-shore wind turbine testing site. The short-term objective aims to assist Taiwan’s off-shore wind turbine manufacturers in obtaining international test reports and certifications. The long-term objective intends to assist the supply chain of Taiwan component industry in passing the related tests and certifications. Furthermore, MIRDC will continue to promote international cooperation and timely revise off-shore wind turbine related national standards. This can help domestic operators rapidly link to the international markets and implement the development of wind power industry.
Taiwan and Japan are countries prone to typhoons and earthquakes, and ClassNK has already accumulated many wind turbine related prototypes, models, and project certification experience. Thus, they are equipped with technical capabilities in typhoon and earthquake resistant off-shore wind turbine standards and floating wind turbine certification technology.
At present, Taiwan has pursued renewable energy developments in response to new energy policies. Wind power industry is one of the main themes in this policy. In view of similar joint development objective, the cooperation between MIRDC and ClassNK is beneficial to Taiwan’s expansion toward the Asia Pacific off-shore wind power market. This is also beneficial for raising the safety of Taiwan’s on-shore and off-shore wind farms.
Caption: group photo of signing delegates and witness. From left to right, ClassNK’s President Ueda Noboru, Director of MOEA’s Bureau of Standards, Metrology, & Inspection Liu Ming-Chung, and MIRDC’s Chairman Tsai Ming-Chi.