Japan – Ørsted, Japan Wind Development (JWD) and Eurus Energy have teamed up to jointly develop offshore wind projects in the Akita Prefecture.
The Noshiro/Mitane/Oga Offshore Wind Farm and the Yurihonjo Offshore Wind Farm are two designated offshore wind sites under Japan’s Offshore Renewable Energy Act of 2018, both of which are located off the coast of Akita. Both projects are now in the process of obtaining the relevant permits. The partnership is completely prepared to bid in Japan’s future offshore wind auction, which will take place on May 27, 2021.
The partnership
The partnership combines worldwide offshore wind market-leading strengths with a strong local renewable development footprint. JWD brings extensive understanding of the Japanese power market and supply chain, as well as a good track record in onshore wind in Japan. Ørsted has unrivaled experience building, constructing, and running offshore wind farms around the world; and Eurus Energy has been developing, constructing, and operating onshore wind farms in Japan for decades.
Matthias Bausenwein, President of Region Asia-Pacific at Ørsted, says “As a strategic market for Ørsted, Japan has great potential and optimal conditions to develop offshore wind.”
Noshiro and Yurihonjo
The Noshiro and Yurihonjo offshore wind sites have been matured by JWD since 2017, conducting site investigations including wind measurements, seabed surveys, and environmental impact assessments. The wind turbines for both wind farms will be installed on bottom-fixed foundations.
Japan has outlined a 30-45 GW offshore wind ambition by 2040 and plans to execute offshore wind auctions every year. Japan’s west coast is expected to host up to 5 GW offshore wind by 2030, and 9 GW by 2040. The grid capacity is 415 MW for Noshiro City, Mitane Town, and Oga City, and 730 MW for Yurihonjo City, as stated in the auction guidelines.
