Two Consortia Secure Public Funding to Build Floating Wind Demos Offshore Japan

June 13, 2024, by Adnan Durakovic

Two consortia have been selected under the Green Innovation Fund (GIF), established by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and administered by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), to develop demonstration floating offshore wind projects.

The first consortium is led by Marubeni Offshore Wind Development (MOWD) and other local partners including SSE Pacifico, which is 80 per cent owned by SSE.

Located off the southern coast of Akita Prefecture in the north of Honshu, Japan’s main island, the Southern Akita Floating Offshore Wind Demonstration Project Aimed at Overseas Expansion via Cost Reductions would be developed in water depths of up to 400 metres, making it one of the deepest offshore development sites in the world. The consortium plans to develop two circa 15 MW demonstrator offshore wind turbines to be deployed with semi-submersible floating foundations.

The consortium will now work on progressing the project subject to reaching key milestones.

The project period will be from July 2024 to March 2031, with commercial operation scheduled to start in autumn 2029.

”We’re delighted our consortium has been successful in the GIF auction in Japan. This demonstration project will play a critical role in enhancing real world knowledge about deploying floating wind at such depths, not only in Japan but globally. It further enhances SSE’s standing in floating wind technology and builds on our strong collaboration with Marubeni on the Ossian floating wind project in the UK,” Dai Karasawa, President of SSE Pacifico, said.

The second consortium comprises C-Tech Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kajima Corporation, Hokutaku, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

The Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Demonstration Project off the coast of Aichi Prefecture will comprise one wind turbine with a capacity of over 15 MW on a semi-submersible foundation off the coast of Tahara City and Toyohashi City.

The five companies will initiate this project after completing the grant procedure with NEDO. The project is scheduled to run from July 2024 to March 2031.

Japan’s Green Innovation Fund (GIF) has been established to support the country’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, while accelerating the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy and enhancing Japan’s competitiveness in the global market.

The GIF provides financial support for businesses and projects that focus on innovative technologies and solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The fund targets various sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable industrial processes. The GIF also aims to foster research and development, demonstration projects, and the commercialisation of new technologies up to FY 2030.

Up to JPY 85 billion (around EUR 500 million) in public funding will be provided and is expected to be evenly split between the two successful projects. The funding will be awarded in phases as each project reaches key development milestones.