Taiwan is pushing a cheaper, home-grown offshore wind design, which is good news for its energy costs and local manufacturers.

• President Lai Ching-te visited Taiwan's smart energy expo in Taipei and toured the economy ministry's booth.
• A new vertical-axis wind turbine on display costs half as much as the floating turbines used today.
• It tilts with the wind to catch more of it, and its simple, light build means more units can be packed into one site.
• The design is still untested in the field, and the plan is to work with foreign partners to adapt it to Taiwan's waters.
• Drones and unmanned boats are also being built to inspect turbine blades above and below the water, cutting costs and easing a shortage of workers.

Outlook: Taiwan passed 10 billion units of offshore wind power in 2025 and will keep expanding, with the new turbine aimed at partnerships abroad before it reaches the sea.