Japan’s second floating offshore wind power facility has begun commercial operation off the coast of Hibikinada in Kitakyushu. A consortium of six private companies has taken over the demonstration facility, which was originally developed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) since 2019.
The facility features a 100-meter-diameter turbine mounted on a barge-type floating platform, a design adopted for the first time in Japan. Located 15 kilometers offshore, the turbine has a maximum output of 3,000 kilowatts.
Floating turbines are not fixed to the seabed, allowing installation in deeper waters farther from shore. While seen as a key technology for expanding renewable energy, cost reduction remains a challenge for broader deployment.
Kitakyushu is also promoting itself as a hub for offshore wind energy. Nearby, a large-scale fixed-bottom wind farm is under construction with 25 turbines planned, expected to supply power equivalent to 40% of the city’s household consumption upon completion. Source: Chugoku Electric Power
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