Equinor teams with J-Power and JERA for Akita offshore windfarms

The projects the consortium plans to work on are offshore Noshiro City, Mitane Town, Oga City and off Yurihonjo City (see map).

The consortium said it plans to work towards bidding for the projects within the framework of the country’s ‘Act on Promoting the Utilization of Sea Areas for the Development of Marine Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities.’

J-Power is the second-largest wind power producer in Japan with approximately 530 MW of generation capacity. J-Power has been operating onshore wind power generation projects in Nikaho city and Yurihonjo city, Akita Prefecture for several years. It has expertise in the development, construction, operation and decommissioning of offshore wind in the form of a demonstration project off Kita-Kyushu City and was awarded the Kitakyushu Hibikinada offshore wind project after an auction. The company has also accumulated significant experience in the European market having taken a stake in the Triton Knoll offshore windfarm in the UK.

JERA hopes to become a leading player in renewable energy and is involved in developing a number of large-scale offshore wind projects in the world. In Taiwan, which has similar weather and sea conditions to those in Japan, it has accumulated experience and expertise in development, construction and operation.

Equinor has significant positions in offshore wind in the UK, the US and in the Baltic Sea. It believes Japan is a growth market with high potential for bottom fixed and floating offshore wind. Akita is Equinor’s first offshore wind opportunity in Japan.

All three companies have developed, constructed and operated large-scale power generation projects around the world.

The consortium said it is committed to the long-term operation of offshore wind projects, which are on an unprecedented scale in Japan. The consortium also said it would contribute to developing local economies and achieving a sustainable society “by moving the projects forward with the understanding and co-operation of all stakeholders and local communities.”