"Korea, Asia-Pacific wind industry hub… reviewing hundreds of millions of dollars in investment" [Monday Interview]
An option for efficient consumption: energy transition
"The Korean government has set ambitious targets for offshore wind power generation that no other country has achieved. It is challenging, but Korea has excellent manufacturing capabilities suited to offshore wind and a highly competitive position."
Henrik Andersen, group president and chief executive officer of Vestas Wind Systems, said this on October 27: "We will support Korea in becoming a hub for the Asia-Pacific wind industry." Vestas, the world's leading wind turbine manufacturer, has installed a cumulative 207GW of wind turbines across 88 countries worldwide and maintains and manages more than 56,000 wind turbines. President Andersen has such high expectations for Korea's offshore wind potential that he relocated Vestas Asia-Pacific regional headquarters from Singapore to Korea in 2023. He is also fleshing out plans for investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars in the country. At the Vestas Korea office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, we asked him about Korea's "future energy transition" and why Vestas is accompanying this journey, having witnessed the introduction phase of offshore wind in numerous countries. The following is a question-and-answer session.
Henrik Andersen, group president and chief executive officer of Vestas Wind Systems, smiles with his arms crossed at the Vestas Korea office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on October 27. President Andersen said, "We will support Korea in establishing itself as an industrial hub underpinning the growth of the entire Asia-Pacific wind industry."
Why relocate the regional headquarters to Korea?
"The Asia-Pacific region has multiple bases for pursuing offshore wind projects. I was confident that Korea, with its strengths in location and industrial capabilities, would lead the future of the Asia-Pacific wind industry. Before establishing the headquarters, I met with ruling and opposition party officials and Seoul City Hall staff to discuss cooperation methods, and I judged that they would be friendly to our business. There were also many business advantages to moving the regional headquarters to Korea. I believed it would be favorable for smooth visa issuance for foreign employees and for creating stable residential and working conditions."
