Wind Energy – Japan
Japanese companies Jera, Modec, Toyo Engineering and Farukawa Electric Industry have launched a subsea ground survey in Ishikari Bay, Hokkaido, Japan, as part of a project to develop cost-reducing technology for tension leg platform (TLP) floating offshore wind turbines.
Jera will conduct the survey based on the environmental conditions applicable to TLPs that were provided by Modec.
In formulating plans for verification testing, the consortium will continue to consult with the local fishing industry, residents, government administrations, and other stakeholders to ensure their understanding.
The survey is part of a two-year project to develop cost-reducing technology for TLP floating offshore wind turbines which the consortium was selected to conduct by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under its Green Innovation Fund programme.
Because Japan has limited shallow-water sites where the bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines can be installed, there is a domestic demand for practical offshore wind turbines that can be installed in deep water further from shore, Modec said in a press release from January.
According to the consortium, the goal of the project is to establish component technologies for TLP floating and mooring systems and subsea power transmission systems with the aim of commercialising floating wind farms in the early 2030s.
