Japan Set to Test Offshore Wind Technologies

Japan is set to collect power generation information from two offshore wind turbines, installed in different locations, in order to overcome technological barriers in this energy sector and use its offshore wind resources as an alternative to nuclear power, Bloomberg cites Masaharu Itoh, director of the new energy technology department of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as saying.

The country is eager to use its renewable resources, especially wind, as it pushes to move away from nuclear energy. On this path, new technologies are the key to addressing Japan’s energy challenges, DNV KEMA said last year.

In March, a 2.4 MW turbine will start operating off Choshi in Chiba prefecture. It has been installed within a research project with Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO).

Also, a 2-megawatt turbine is planned to be installed off Kitakyushu in March which is expected to become operational this summer. NEDO is developing this project with Electric Power Development Co., also known as J-Power.

Construction of a turbine and an observation tower for each of these projects cost approximately USD 53 million, Mr.Itoh added.

Japan is planning to begin the construction of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in July, which will have a total capacity of 1 GW and will be placed 16 kilometers off the coast of Fukushima.

Recently, Japanese Government has announced that it will start a transmission grid project in April, which will boost the country’s current wind energy capacity by approximately 600%.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND Staff, February 20, 2013; Image: Siemens