Japan: Experimental Offshore Floating Wind Farm Project

Japan Experimental Offshore Floating Wind Farm Project

A consortium made up of Marubeni (project integrator), the University of Tokyo (technical advisor), Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan Marine United, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, Hitachi, Furukawa Electric, Shimizu and Mizuho Information & Research have been participating in an experimental offshore floating wind farm project sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry since March 2012.

At present, the construction of the floating power facility consisting of a 2MW downwind-type wind turbine and a 4 Column Semi-Sub as part of the first term has been successfully completed and their delivery to Fukushima has started today.

 1. Outline of construction works in the first term

Setting one 2MW downwind-type floating wind turbine, the world’s first 66kV floating power sub-station and undersea cable.

 2. Work progress to date

The following works have already been completed;

<2MW downwind- type floating wind turbine>

– Mounting wind turbine on floating compact semi-sub at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Chiba Works.

– Setting up of the anchor chains.

<66kV floating power sub-station>

– Construction of the 66kV floating power sub-station at Japan Marine United Corporation, Yokohama Works.

– Setting up of the anchor chains.

 <Undersea cable>

– Delivery of the undersea cable from Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd Chiba Works to Onahama port, Fukushima.

– Laying and burying the undersea cable (in progress)

3. Next Step

The following activities need to be completed to start operation of the power facilities from October 2013;

Schedule will be changed depending on the meteorological and sea conditions.
< 2MW floating wind turbine and compact semi-sub >

28 June Starting the delivery to Onahama port, Fukushima
Early July
Arrival at Onahama
Early – Mid July
Electric work and test
Late July – Early August
Delivery the facility and its mooring operation in the testing area

<66kV floating power sub-station >

Early July
Start the delivery to the testing area
Mid July
Mooring operation
<Undersea cable>
Late July – Early August
Shipping, laying and burying the riser cable at the testing area
August
Connection of the cable
Early September
Commencement of the trial run

[mappress]

Press release, June 28, 2013; Image: mitsubishicorp