Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) has entered into an agreement with floating wind specialist Bombora to identify wave, and hybrid wave and wind power energy potential in Japan and the Asia Pacific region
Following completion of an internal technology review of Bombora’s mWave wave energy converter by MOL, the companies have embarked on a second phase of collaboration.
The partnership will identify potential sites for mWave energy projects and combined wind and mWave energy projects in Japan and the Asia Pacific region. MOL will bring its expertise in marine and offshore operations, and regional industry supply chain knowledge to the joint study.
Bombora development manager Asia Pacific region Ryota Yamada said, “We are very pleased to be conducting this strategic site identification project with MOL. The study will seek out opportunities suitable for wave, as well as hybrid wave and wind projects.
“MOL has a clear ambition to expand its sustainable marine operations into the energy sector. The company is a significant collaboration partner for Bombora.
“With a focus on carbon emissions reduction, we will work together to find potential development sites for Bombora’s mWave to reduce reliance on diesel fuel for island communities. The project will also investigate the broader utility power potential off Japan’s Pacific coastline.”
Japan aims to install between 30 GW and 45 GW of offshore wind by 2040 as part of the country’s aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry also set an interim target of 10 GW by 2030. The Japan Wind Power Association has identified potential floating wind capacity of more than 500 GW offshore Japan. The MOL/Bombora partnership will analyse the opportunity to capitalise on this growth potential by adding wave energy to offshore windfarms to increase energy production.
Bombora is currently in the final assembly phase of its 1.5-MW mWave Pembrokeshire demonstration project in Wales with installation scheduled for mid-2021.
In ‘InSPIRE,’ Bombora’s partnership project with TechnipFMC, it is integrating mWave and wind generation on a floating offshore platform. The first phase of the InSPIRE project will see the companies demonstrate a 12-MW Integrated mWave and wind floating platform. Phase two will make the leap to 18 MW.
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