Taiwan’s upcoming Round 3.3 offshore wind tender will offer 3.6 GW of capacity, with individual bids ranging from 300 MW to a maximum of 1 GW. Projects that secure awards will be required to connect to the grid in the 2030–2031 timeframe, supporting the national objective of sourcing 60% of electricity from renewables by 2050. Current offshore wind installations in Taiwan total roughly 4 GW.
These design changes are being developed against the backdrop of a difficult 2025 for the global offshore wind industry, when a number of projects worldwide did not progress to a final investment go-ahead. In response, Taiwan is reshaping how new offshore wind capacity is allocated, with a clear emphasis on making sure projects are financially and technically deliverable.
Last week, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) presented draft regulations for Round 3.3 at a public consultation. Although stakeholders have not yet reached an agreement, the government signalled that the revised framework reflects a broader shift in Taiwan’s renewable energy strategy. Under the draft, the tender mechanism would move away from an approach dominated by bid price and rigid localisation rules. A developer’s execution and delivery capability would instead sit at the centre of the evaluation, marking a departure from earlier, primarily price-driven rounds.
A key change is the removal of Taiwan’s localisation regulations, a step that aligns with developers’ focus on controlling costs. In their place, the assessment would give significant weight to a bidder’s track record and financial strength, which together would account for 35 points in the total score. Track record would be tested through a “negative list” that examines past delays, early project termination, and failures to sign required administrative contracts.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are also being built into the process at an earlier stage. ESG performance is planned to contribute 10–15% of the overall evaluation score. Traditionally, these reviews have taken place during the financing phase, after capacity has already been awarded. Conducting ESG assessments so late has led to additional baseline studies, raising project costs and extending development schedules. Bringing ESG into the planning phase is seen as an effort to limit such delays.
According to Will Liu, Senior Consultant at AFRY, the proposed framework would filter out speculative bidders and developers whose performance in previous rounds has harmed their credibility. He notes that only a relatively small group of companies can, on their own, satisfy both the execution and financial criteria. As a result, he expects to see more joint-development structures in which capital-strong investors and technically experienced developers combine their capabilities in order to participate in the tender.
MOEA plans to finalise the Round 3.3 rules, including the detailed selection mechanism, within this first quarter.
