Century Group Eyes Nuclear Power, Pursues SMR Equipment for 2030 Commercialization

Taiwan's Century Group, a major manufacturer of offshore wind foundations, is strategically expanding its energy portfolio to include nuclear, solar, and gas power. The move is driven by the anticipated surge in energy demand from artificial intelligence, a trend the company's chairman, Lai Wen-hsiang, deems irreversible for the next two decades.

“

AI brings huge energy demand, and the next 10 to 20 years are an irreversible trend.

Century Group is actively pursuing opportunities in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) sector, engaging with U.S. manufacturers to supply equipment such as reactor peripheral components and pressure vessels. The company aims to secure German technical and safety certifications within three years, targeting commercial SMR deployment around 2029 or 2030. This strategic pivot leverages the group's existing strengths in specialized port facilities, heavy manufacturing equipment, and advanced welding technology.

“

We are currently in discussions with American companies to enter the SMR equipment supply market.

In its core offshore wind business, Century Group anticipates a doubling of orders for its pipe pile foundations. The recent merger of Century Wind Power and Century Huaxin, now to be renamed Century Energy Equipment, is expected to streamline supply chains and reduce production costs by 20%, enhancing competitiveness against South Korean and Vietnamese rivals. The company holds a dominant market share in Taiwan's offshore wind foundation sector and plans to expand internationally, prioritizing markets with clear policies and less mature local supply chains, starting with Japan and later expanding to the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.

“

If we talk about commercial scale, the designs must converge to 5 to 10 types, so that the cost scale of the supply chain can be reduced. It is expected to reach commercial scale at least after 2029 or 2030.

Despite international developers withdrawing from Taiwan, Century Group forecasts record profits this year, bolstered by its increasing focus on EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) projects. While EPC contracts may have lower profit margins than pure manufacturing, they significantly boost revenue and earnings per share. The company aims for EPC projects to constitute 90% of its revenue within three years. The Taiwanese government's commitment to offshore wind development through 2039, coupled with enhanced financing guarantees and inter-ministerial coordination, provides an optimistic outlook for the sector, even with some execution challenges.

“

International developers are withdrawing from the Taiwanese market, but Century Wind Power's profits are expected to reach a new high this year, and the outlook will become increasingly good.