Korea is determined to compete with China in the field of special offshore wind turbine installation vessels.
According to Japanese media reports, Hanwha Ocean will build an offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) for the South Korean offshore wind power project site in 2028 and put it into operation.
Hanwha Ocean signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation for domestic offshore wind power projects with Hyundai E&C on the 19th. Hanwha Ocean is responsible for the overall development and construction of the Sinan Nokguk offshore wind power project and the construction and supply of WTIV, while Hyundai Construction participates in design, procurement and construction (EPC) as a construction investor and joint contractor.
The new Sinan Ugu coastal wind power project involves building a 390 MW offshore wind farm in the eastern sea area of Ugye Island in Sunan County, Jeollanam-do. The project is led by a consortium of companies headed by Hanwha Ocean and SK Eternics, with a total project cost of 3.1 trillion won (approximately 32.86 billion yen), aiming to be completed by 2029.
The WTIV that Hanwha Ocean is building this time is large enough to transport and construct multiple 15,000 kW class large offshore wind turbines at the same time. The WTIV will transport materials such as blades, turbines, and towers to the sea, install fixed substructures at depths of 60-80 meters, and then assemble the tower and turbine body using large cranes. Due to the increasing size of generators and the location of offshore wind farms further away from the shore, the demand for WTIV has increased.
Regarding South Korean shipyards, Hanwha Ocean has received orders for four ships from 2009 to recently, delivered three ships, and one is currently under construction. Samsung Heavy Industries has already received orders and delivered three ships, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has not yet received any orders. Professor Yoo Min-jik of the Environmental Ship Research Center at Korea Maritime and Ocean University predicts, "The profit margin of WTIVs is not high, and the number of constructions is also small. However, if domestic and foreign demand increases in the future, the shipbuilding industry will actively step forward."
In the global market, China is a strong competitor. According to data from the China Shipbuilding Industry Association, according to the Norwegian energy newspaper Upstream, 33 out of the 37 WTIVs built globally in 2023 were built in China (accounting for 89%). According to data from the World Wind Energy Association, the holders of WTIVs include 56 in China, 49 in Europe, 11 in Asia outside China, and 1 in South Korea. China's large-scale construction and ownership are due to the fact that it has designated renewable energy as a strategic industry and is actively promoting financial support such as payment guarantees, ensuring stable domestic demand.
Even if South Korea tries to increase its offshore wind turbines, it has to borrow a WTIV from a Chinese shipping company. An industry insider predicted, "If the South Korean government promotes the linkage between offshore wind power projects and WTIV orders, South Korean shipyards will be able to accumulate technology based on continuous demand."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840980492042240/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author."