Offshore wind consultant NIRAS opens Taiwan office

Yearly turnover of over US$4m before 2025 is expected.

NIRAS has opened a new office to facilitate access to a multi billion USD market undergoing rapid development

Ambitious plans for climate adaption and attractive subsidy schemes make Taiwan one of the most interesting countries for investments in offshore wind farms. NIRAS was quick to gain a foothold in the growing market 5 years ago, and now NIRAS is stepping up its business with a permanent office in Taipei.

Towards 2025, Taiwan will build off shore wind farms generating 4 GW, corresponding to an investment of approx. USD 20 billion and more investments are in the pipeline. Until 2040, local and foreign developers are planning to expand offshore wind farms to a total of 11 GW. The farms will be established in 37 offshore areas in the Taiwan Strait between China and Taiwan.

NIRAS’ primary role in Taiwan is to act as Owners Engineer, where NIRAS staff will help local businesses to develop projects for the offshore wind farms and optimize the supply chain and to help foreign developers gain a foothold in the country. For that reason, our new office will be manned by both local and European staff. NIRAS also design foundations including structural, geotechnical, hydraulic and electrical design and NIRAS has several contracts on design of foundations and supervision of the fabrication and construction of the first offshore wind farms in Taiwan.

Overall, Tore Lucht, Head of Offshore Wind at NIRAS, Marine and Geotechnical Engineering, expects that the group’s revenue in Taiwan will reach a yearly turnover above US$4m before 2025 in Taiwan and that Taiwan will also serve as a stepping stone to the markets in Japan, South Korea and China.