Taiwan Offshore Wind Industry Association (TOWIA) clarified on recent reports that typhoons have failed to increase the amount of offshore wind turbine power generated
Taiwan Offshore Wind Industry Association (TOWIA) clarified on recent reports that typhoons have failed to increase the amount of offshore wind turbine power generated
Taiwan Offshore Wind Industry Association (#TOWIA) clarified on recent reports that typhoons have failed to increase the amount of offshore wind turbine power generated and that the number of stranded cetaceans has increased during wind farm construction.
Regarding the doubts about the increase in offshore wind power generation during typhoons, TOWIA explained that the peripheral circulation of typhoons in the southern waters of Taiwan was blocked by the Central Mountain Range, resulting in a general lack of wind or reduced wind power in western Taiwan. As a result, offshore wind turbines could not generate electricity during the typhoon.
TOWIA further provided relevant data to demonstrate that although the wind speed was strong along the coastal areas, the central and northern regions, where most of the wind turbines are located, experienced calm conditions, leading to the perception that offshore wind power could not generate electricity during the typhoon.
Furthermore, TOWIA officially emphasizes that the industry is very concerned about reports of an increase in the number of cetaceans stranded during the construction of offshore wind power and that it is immediately aware of the relevant data and the reasons for the stranding of cetaceans.
According to relevant statistics, there has been no significant change in the number of cetaceans strandings during the offshore wind farm construction period from 2019 to 2022; there has been a slight decrease.
The report also highlighted that the peak of strandings occurs from January to April, while the period of intensive offshore wind construction from June to September corresponds to a relatively low number of cetaceans strandings.
TOWIA stated that all Taiwan offshore wind farms strictly adhere to the commitments of environmental assessments, including the deployment of qualified cetaceans observers to monitor the construction area for any cetaceans presence. Moreover, high-standard noise barrier measures are employed during offshore wind farm construction, and noise levels are continuously monitored. Project operators at each wind farm remain committed to achieving a balance between development and conservation, and they hope to further investigate the reasons behind dolphin strandings to collectively protect marine life.
