Ørsted Builds a Diverse Taiwan O&M Team Empowering Women to Lead Taiwan's Offshore Wind Future

Ørsted is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment while continuously promoting the diversification of its local Taiwan Operations & Maintenance (O&M) team to ensure the optimal operational performance of the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farms. The team includes several female colleagues who play crucial roles in wind turbine maintenance and maritime coordination, working alongside their teams to ensure the safety of operations and the stable supply of electricity. These women are emerging as a vital force in Taiwan's offshore wind O&M sector.

Christy Wang, Chair of Ørsted Taiwan, stated: "Ørsted upholds a people-centric approach to green energy development, building a diverse and resilient Taiwan team while fostering an inclusive workplace where every colleague—regardless of gender, background, culture, or position—can thrive and contribute to Taiwan's sustainable future."

Since 2018, Ørsted has been recruiting and training its Taiwan O&M team, which has now grown to include over 70 local O&M professionals. Colleagues from various industries and backgrounds have joined Ørsted with a shared commitment to the offshore wind sector, collaborating onshore and offshore to drive Taiwan's green energy transition.

Cathy is Ørsted Taiwan's first female offshore wind turbine maintenance engineer. With prior experience in documentary production and the restaurant industry, she decided to switch careers during the pandemic, becoming a marine engineer. This transition provided her with the opportunity to enter the offshore wind industry, ultimately leading to her role at Ørsted.

She finds great meaning in her work as a wind turbine maintenance engineer and firmly believes that women are equally capable of excelling in this field. After undergoing over 6 months of intensive training and overcoming numerous challenges, Cathy successfully obtained all necessary physical and technical qualifications in January. She has since officially joined the O&M team for the first phase of the Greater Changhua Southeast and Southwest offshore wind farms. Her journey exemplifies Ørsted’s dedication to cultivating local, diverse talent and stands as a prime example of the growing diversity within offshore wind O&M.

Cathy admitted that she initially felt nervous about performing maintenance work at sea. However, Ørsted's comprehensive training programs, hands-on operational training, and the unwavering support from her O&M colleagues helped her overcome the learning curve and complete her training successfully. She is proud to be Ørsted Taiwan's first female offshore wind turbine maintenance engineer and to contribute to Taiwan's energy transition.

Another colleague, Megan, previously worked for an offshore wind turbine supplier, where she was responsible for planning wind farm O&M activities. She chose to join Ørsted because she strongly resonated with the company's emphasis on offshore wind farm safety and its commitment to providing comprehensive training and career development opportunities for employees.

As an O&M Maritime Coordinator at Ørsted, Megan manages the scheduling and communication of offshore operational vessels and personnel. Her role requires keen attention to detail to handle unexpected challenges such as changing weather conditions, as well as strong teamwork and adaptability. Although her job typically does not require offshore deployment, she obtained Global Wind Organization (GWO) Basic Safety Training certification for offshore wind to better coordinate vessel and personnel scheduling. This certification enables her to go offshore alongside colleagues, observe first-hand how maintenance operations are conducted, understand O&M personnel needs, and leverage these insights to enhance offshore operational coordination.

As Ørsted's Asia-Pacific headquarters in Taiwan enters its ninth year, the company now employs 225 people from 14 countries, with nearly 80% being locally hired Taiwanese professionals. Ørsted firmly believes that talent is the key to advancing the green energy future. With the offshore construction of the Greater Changhua 2b & 4 fully underway, Ørsted continues to recruit talent to strengthen its O&M capabilities. By creating a workplace that prioritizes talent development and inclusivity, Ørsted is fostering an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds can grow and contribute to the global energy transition.