Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power Company is planning to launch its first commercial offshore wind facility on 1 January.
The Choshi project features a single 2.4MW MWT92 machine on a bottom-fixed foundation. The turbine has a rotor diameter of 92 metres and tip height of 126 metres.
It is located off the coast of Choshi in the Chiba prefecture of Japan. Tepco has been conducting testing of the facility since 2013.
“The demonstration provided Tepco with valuable experience in operating and maintaining the facility in harsh weather and marine conditions, as well as ensuring equipment safety and resistance to damage from saltwater.
“As a result, the demonstration test proved conclusively that Tepco’s facility is safe and can be operated at a high capacity factor,” the company said.
Tepco is planning to move forward with more offshore wind projects, both in Japan and abroad. Between 2GW and 3GW are planned for Japan, it said.
The company has been conducting seabed surveys since 1 November off the Choshi coast to examine the feasibility of developing a larger offshore wind farm in the area.