Japanese Offshore Wind and Battery Storage Project Begins Commercial Operation

January 4, 2024, by Adnan Memija

On 1 January 2024, the 112 MW Ishikari Bay New Port offshore wind farm in Japan began commercial operations, which is owned by JERA and Green power Investment Corporation, through a special-purpose corporation, Green Power Ishikari GK.

The construction of the Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm began in October 2022 after the project’s developers completed financing.

A few months later, CAPE Holland announced that 56 pin piles were installed at the offshore construction site located approximately three kilometres from the shore of Ishikari Bay in Hokkaido.

The onshore construction was carried out by Kajima Corporation and the offshore construction by a joint venture between Shimizu Corporation and Nippon Steel Engineering.

The Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm utilises 14 wind turbines manufactured by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

The SG 8.0-167 DD is built specifically for offshore use. It is tailored to meet local codes and standards regarding typhoons, seismic activities, 50 Hertz operation, as well as operation in high and low ambient temperatures, according to Siemens Gamesa.

In February 2023, Siemens Gamesa signed a charter agreement contract with Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) for a crew transfer vessel (CTV) that will be used to transport workers between the offshore work site facilities and the onshore maintenance base.

That same year, Shimizu Corporation inked a time charter contract with Mitsui O.S.K. Line (MOL) for two CTVs for the 112 MW offshore wind project.

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The Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm has a 20-year power purchase agreement with Hokkaido Electric Power Network (HEPN) for 100 per cent of the power output.

The renewable energy is being routed through a project substation and then through HEPN’s Nishi Sapporo substation.

The project also features a battery storage component with 100 MW x 180 MWh of capacity.