TOKYO, Mar 07, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - A consortium made up of Marubeni (project integrator), the University of Tokyo, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, IHI Marine United, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Nippon Steel, Hitachi, Furukawa Electric, Shimizu and Mizuho Information & Research are participating in an experimental offshore floating wind farm project sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
This experimental project consists of three floating wind turbines and one floating power sub-station off the coast of Fukushima. The first stage of this experimental project will begin in 2012 and consists of one 2MW floating wind turbine, the world's first 66kV floating power sub-station and undersea cable. In the second stage of the project two 7MW wind turbines will be added between 2013 and 2015.
Fukushima Prefecture expects this experimental project to spawn a new industry in renewable energy and create employment as part of recovery efforts in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Through this experimental project, Fukushima Prefecture hopes to develop a large wind farm industry. It is understood that one of the most important themes of this experimental project is the coexistence of the fishery industry with the offshore wind farm industry. To ensure this the consortium will work hard to maintain good relations with the local fishery industry through strong communication while at the same time pursuing the commercialization of this offshore wind farm project.
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. Moreover, taking advantage of the experience and knowledge gained through this, the world's first floating wind farm, this business could be expanded on a global basis and lead to the development of a new Japanese export industry.
Table 1: Facility Specifications
Facility Scale Wind Turbine Form Floating Form Project
Name Term
Floating 25MVA Substation Advanced Spar First
Substation 66kV
Wind Turbine 2MW Downwind Type 4 Column Semi-Sub First
Large Wind 7MW Oil Pressure Drive 3 Column Semi-Sub Second
Turbine Type
Large Wind 7MW Oil Pressure Drive Advanced Spar Second
Turbine Type Or Downwind Type
Table 2: Consortium Members' Main Roles
Consortium Member Main Role
Marubeni Corporation (Project Integrator)
Feasibility Study, Approval and Licensing,
Environment, Fishery Industry, O&M, etc.
The University of Tokyo (Technical Advisor)
Floating Observation, Technical Developing
Mitsubishi Corporation Feasibility Study, Approval and Licensing,
Environment, Fishery Industry, O&M, etc.
Mitsubishi Heavy Floating Wind Turbine
Industries Ltd
IHI Marin United Inc. Floating Wind Turbine, Floating Body for
Substation
Mitsui Engineering & Floating Wind Turbine
Shipbuilding Co. Ltd
Nippon Steel Corp. Steel supply
Hitachi Ltd Floating Electric Power Substation
Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd Undersea Cable
Shimizu Corp. Construction Technology
Mizuho Information & Documentation, Committee Operations
Research Institute Inc.
Table 3: Experimental Project Marine Area Features
Depth of Average Speed Max Significant Distance from shore
the Sea of Wind Wave Height
100 - 150m Over 7.0m/s 10 - 15m 20 - 40km