The Japanese MODEC and Toyo Construction have jointly obtained approval in principle (AiP) from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for a floating structure and tether system and tether pile foundation for tension leg platform (TLP) type floating offshore wind turbine.
In 2020, MODEC obtained AiP for the floating offshore wind turbines from DNV. This time, both companies have obtained another AiP from ClassNK for the demonstration project in Japan to preempt some of the evaluation items for Wind Farm Certification and Classification Surveys that will be required during the demonstration project.
In acquiring the AiP, both companies also conducted a study on Japan’s unique environmental conditions, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and received opinions from ClassNK, which will be reflected in the design and the development during the expected demonstration project.
The AiP has been obtained based on the drawings and related documents of the floating structure & tether system provided by MODEC and those of the tether pile foundation provided by Toyo Construction.
The acquisition of the approval was one of the tasks of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s (NEDO) Green Innovation Fund Phase 1 project, which was carried out by MODEC, Toyo Construction, Furukawa Electric, and JERA.
In 2022, the Japanese companies launched a subsea ground survey in Ishikari Bay, Hokkaido, as part of the project to develop cost-reducing technology for TLP floating offshore wind turbines.
According to MODEC’s press release from January 2022, 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 commercializing floating wind farms in the early 2030s.
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Last year, Japan added 572.3 MW of new wind capacity, resulting in a total operational wind energy capacity of 5,213.4 MW for the first time, according to preliminary data published by the Japan Wind Power Association.
As for offshore wind, the country had 153.5 MW of installed capacity at the end of last year, not including semi-offshore wind farms accessible from coastal areas.