Japan’s Ishikari Bay New Port offshore windfarm enters operation

The offshore windfarm, developed by JERA and Green Power Investment (GPI), is Japan’s largest commercial windfarm and the first in the country to use 8-MW wind turbines. 

Built at Hokkaido’s Ishikari Bay New Port, the windfarm has 14 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines and a capacity of 112 MW. Onshore construction was carried out by Kajima Corp and offshore construction by a joint venture between Shimizu Corp and Nippon Steel Engineering. 

All of the electricity generated at the windfarm will be supplied to Hokkaido Electric Power Network (HEPN) after being transmitted through a transformer substation with 180,000 kWh of battery storage capacity, and then through HEPN’s Nishi Sapporo substation.  

JERA and GPI said they are committed to further renewable energy projects in the region, and are working with Ishikari City, Otaru City and the authorities in the region.