CO2 leak in Taiwanese offshore wind farm

Canada-based Northland Power has confirmed a carbon dioxide leak at the Hai Long Changhua onshore substation, part of its offshore wind project in Taiwan.

The leak, which originated from the substation's fire extinguishing system, occurred around 10 a.m. local time on August 20 and affected 17 workers at the site, Northland said in a statement.

The company said that emergency services were notified immediately and first aid measures were initiated on site. The affected people were taken to nearby hospitals, where they are currently receiving emergency medical treatment.

The leak has been contained and all work at the onshore substation has been suspended until further notice while the project team works with local authorities to investigate the cause of the incident and ensure the safety of personnel and the surrounding community, Northland said.

“The safety and well-being of our employees and partners remains our highest priority,” said John Brace, CEO of Northland Power. “Our current focus is on the well-being of the affected workers and their families. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as new information becomes available.”

The Hai Long offshore wind project, currently under development, is located 45 to 70 kilometers off the coast of Changhua in 35 to 55 meters of water. The 1,022 megawatt (MW) project will be Taiwan's largest offshore wind project when it is connected to the grid between 2025 and 2026.

The project is being developed by Northland Power, along with Japan-based Mitsui & Co., Ltd and Malaysia-based Gentari.