GSMMA Releases Latest Subsea Geological Information for Offshore Wind Farms in Penghu, Changhua Coastal Park, and Hsinchu-Miaoli Area

The Taiwanese government is committed to the transition of energy and the acceleration of offshore wind development as part of its green energy initiative. The Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency, MOEA (GSMMA), has completed regional-scale subsurface geological surveys in the vicinity of Penghu, Changhua Coastal Park, and the nearshore area of Hsinchu-Miaoli for offshore wind farm development.

The geological conditions in the Taiwan Strait offshore wind farm areas are complex. Known geological factors include shallow faults, sandwave migration, fluid chimneys, hard layers, and anticline structures, distributed variably. These factors need to be considered in wind turbine foundation design and siting to avoid potential geological risks to the engineering projects.

The GSMMA has integrated the most recent survey and analysis results, publicly disclosing potential geological impact factors in the nearshore area of Hsinchu-Miaoli and the updated Changhua offshore wind farm area. The provided information is a crucial reference for relevant authorities and wind power developers in their planning and development processes. Wind power developers can effectively utilize detailed geological planning to avoid high-risk areas, thereby significantly shortening the environmental impact assessment process and expediting wind turbine installation and green energy production.

GSMMA completed regional geological surveys for the Changhua offshore wind farm area in 2022, expanded surveys to the Penghu vicinity and nearshore Hsinchu-Miaoli in 2023, and conducted supplementary surveys in the offshore area of Changhua in the same year. Potential geological impact factors analyzed include shallow faults that may cause strata movement, sandwave migration affecting variations in foundation burial depth or foundation scouring, fluid chimneys leading to pile slippage or inadequate bearing capacity, and distribution of hard layers and anticline structures affecting construction.

Survey results and analysis data from the Geological Center are publicly available on the "Offshore Wind Geological and Environmental Awareness System" for public inquiry and use. GSMMA plans to conduct surveys for the outer offshore area of Hsinchu-Miaoli and supplementary nearshore areas in 2024, with results to be compiled, analyzed, and published by early 2025.