Japan backs floating offshore wind turbines at Fukushima

The Japanese government is backing an effort to install an experimental floating offshore wind turbine farm off the coast of Fukushima.

Three floating wind turbines and a floating power sub-station will be deployed, starting with the first 2 MW turbine and 66 kV sub-station, as well as an undersea cable, this year.

The initial stage will be followed by the addition of two 7 MW offshore turbines between 2013 and 2015.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is sponsoring the effort, which is being carried out by a consortium consisting of Marubeni, the University of Tokyo, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, IHI Marine United, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Nippon Steel, Hitachi, Furukawa Electric, Shimizu and Mizuho Information & Research.

The project hopes to spawn a new renewable energy sector with much needed jobs in the beleaguered Fukushima region, devastated by the tsunami and the subsequent nuclear crisis.

“We believe that creating a practical wind farm business scheme through this experimental project could lead to the deployment of large scale floating wind farms in the future,” the Mitsubishi Corporation said in a statement.

Mitsubishi says the success of the venture could lead to the expansion of floating wind farm technology and its development as a new export industry for Japan.

For further information:
www.mitsubishicorp.com
www.mhi.co.jp
www.marubeni.com
www.hitachi.com
www.nsc.co.jp
www.shimz.co.jp/english/

07 March 2012

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