NKT announced that it will sign a joint venture agreement with Taiwanese cable company, Walsin Lihwa, to provide technical support for the construction of the first subsea power cable factory in Taiwan.

A press release said that the factory will produce high- and medium-voltage AC offshore power cables mainly for the Taiwanese offshore wind market. This is expected to grow rapidly in the next decade to drive the green transition of the country. NKT will own a share of the joint venture and will act as the technical partner.

Aside from establishing a joint venture, the agreement includes a service agreement for building the factory, and another that will license NKT technology to the JV. When the factory is in operation, expectedly in 2027, NKT will generate revenue based on a royalty scheme and dividend from the joint venture. Final constitution of the joint venture is subject to customary regulatory procedures.

The partnership will see the establishment of the Walsin Energy Cable System Co. Ltd. (Walsin) with agreements that will result in the construction and operations of the Kaohsiung Submarine Cable plant. Walsin will own 90% of Walsin Cable, and NKT the remainder. The plant, which will primarily manufacture high-voltage export cables and medium-voltage AC cables to serve the offshore wind power market, is expected to undergo trial runs by the end of 2025, with full production by 2027.

“We expect high growth in the Asian market in the coming decades,” said NKT President and CEO Alexander Kara. “Taiwan is targeting to install additional 15 GW of offshore wind by 2035. The joint venture is ... an opportunity for us to participate in a new, growing market, which is otherwise challenging to serve. It is an important first step for NKT to establish presence in the Asian high- and medium-voltage market and a platform for future growth in the region.”

“Taiwan is blessed with an abundance of wind resources, presenting vast commercial opportunities in offshore wind power and submarine cable,” said Yu-Lon Chiao, chairman of Walsin Lihwa. “Walsin is honored to enter into a win-win partnership with NKT ... to further our clean energy strategy and contribute towards Taiwan’s green energy future”