June 23, 2015

World’s most powerful floating wind turbine unveiled in Fukushima

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/business/AJ201506230043

By KENICHIRO SHINO/ Staff Writer

IWAKI, Fukushima Prefecture--A floating wind turbine that will have the planet’s largest generating capacity was shown to the public at Onahama port here on June 22 ahead of test runs scheduled for late this year.

Ten companies, including Marubeni Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., and the University of Tokyo took part in an experimental study project initiated by the economy ministry to develop the wind turbine.

The turbine has three 82-meter-long blades and rises 189 meters from the ocean surface when the blades are in a vertical position, roughly equivalent to the height of a 50-story skyscraper. It will able to produce 7 megawatts of electricity, which can supply about 6,000 households.

For the trial runs from December, the turbine will be fixed on floats and transported about 20 kilometers off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture where it will generate electricity. The electricity will be transmitted to the coast via underwater cables.

The project team plans to have the turbine operational for practical application as soon as possible after the offshore tests.

 June 22, 2015

Largest offshore wind turbine unveiled in Fukushima

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/06/22/business/economy-business/largest-offshore-wind-turbine-unveiled-in-fukushima/#.VYksUEbwmid

JIJI

IWAKI, FUKUSHIMA PREF. – A huge floating wind turbine for an experimental offshore power generation project was unveiled Monday at Onahama port in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture.

With an output capacity of 7,000 kilowatts, the turbine is the largest piece of offshore wind power generation equipment in the world.

The project, commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in fiscal 2011, aims to establish a business model to kick-start domestic wind turbine exports.

The new turbine, some 220 meters high including the floating foundation, will start operating some 20 km off Fukushima in September.

Since the turbine isn’t fixed to the sea bottom, it will transmit electricity to land via submarine cable.

Offshore turbines enjoy the benefit of more stable wind than onshore models, and are more efficient because they are not hampered by the constraints posed by land and transportation.

A 2,000-kilowatt wind turbine has already started operations off Fukushima. A third turbine with an output capacity of 5,000 kilowatts will be installed in fiscal 2015.