Joint Development Project by Technological Development Manufacturers and Electric Utilities to Solve Common Technological Issues for Floating Offshore Wind Power Systems Selected as a Project Under NEDO’s “Green Innovation Fund / Cost-Reduction Projects for Offshore Wind Power Generation” Program

The “development of common element technology for low-cost floating offshore wind power generation systems” (hereinafter the “Project”), jointly proposed by a consortium consisting of 12 companies in total including TEPCO Renewable Power, Inc. (secretarial company), Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., Hokuriku Electric Power Co., Electric Power Development Co., Ltd., Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc., Kyuden Mirai Energy Co., Inc., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corp., and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has been successfully adopted in the offshore wind power technological development category of the “Green Innovation Fund / Cost-Reduction Projects for Offshore Wind Power Generation” program, organized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

There are high expectations for offshore wind power generation to become one of mainstream power sources as the world strives to establish a carbon-neutral society by 2050. Japan’s offshore wind power generation is more costly than in many other countries. With limited shallow waters surrounding the national territory, some say Japan has room to adopt a floating system rather than fixed structures which are more widely used in Europe. Japan now faces the need to develop, introduce and spread the use of a low-cost and large-scale offshore wind power system based on floating structures.

In this Project, technology development manufacturers and electric utilities have formed a consortium (Note 1) to explore ways of reducing the costs of hardware and its installation and administration in relation to high-voltage dynamic cables (Note 2) and floating offshore substations / converters (Note 3), which are common issues for a floating offshore wind power generation system. More specifically, the technological development manufacturer focuses on developing technologies that cater to future market needs, while electric utilities examine and evaluate the technologies from the perspective of their relevance in floating offshore wind power generation systems anticipated for future use. Accordingly, the consortium will achieve efficient technological development with a view to practical social applications.

The consortium promotes technological development with the aim of achieving early cost reduction and expanded introduction of floating offshore wind power generation systems in Japan, thereby contributing to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Note1 Consortium
This consortium amasses specialized technologies and expert knowledge from in and outside Japan and shares the information with the supply chain, while strategically promoting the development of next-generation technology that helps to capture a market share in the future.

Note2 High-voltage dynamic cables
High-voltage dynamic cables track the movement of a floating platform that moves with waves and winds. An intermediate buoy (float) is fitted to the underwater section of the cables to create an arched shape, which mitigates the impact of the floating platform’s vibrations to the cables.

Note3 Floating offshore substation / conversion station
This is an electric facility that converts electricity, generated by a floating offshore wind power system, to high-voltage direct current before transmitting it to ground facilities. This will become necessary as an efficient power transmission facility to be connected to floating offshore wind power generation systems in the future.