Sumitomo Corporation and J-Power are conducting surveys and investigations off the coast of Sakai City in Japan as part of efforts to develop offshore wind capacity.
The activity includes boring surveys, sonic prospecting, and other investigations to determine the soil structure in the area and acquire other data required for designing the developers’ proposed offshore wind farm and determining the most suitable foundation structures.
The boring survey will be conducted using a “self-elevating platform” offshore to investigate soil structure and geological characteristics, according to Sumitomo.
Sonic prospecting deploys sonic waves emitted from a boat and reflected off the seabed in order to measure and investigate the ground conditions within the investigation area.
The surveys will occur between July and August 2019.
Since enacting a new law the Japanese Government has started the process of determining areas for promoting offshore wind power development.
Waters off the coast of Sakai City, in Nagasaki prefecture, are considered to be one of the most promising areas in Japan for offshore wind development due to good wind resource and relatively shallow depths.
The two companies have been working with local residents and other stakeholders.
The Japanese law promoting offshore renewable power generation in coastal waters is expected to result in large-scale offshore wind power plants.
Sumitomo said it will pursue opportunities by leveraging its expertise accumulated overseas.
J-Power is the second largest wind power producer in Japan and has been gaining expertise in offshore wind power generation through various major projects.
These activities include involvement in the construction and operation of an offshore wind power demonstration facility off the coast of Kitakyushu City, execution of commercialisation surveys in the port area of Kitakyushu, and the company’s participation in the Triton Knoll offshore wind power project in the UK.
In addition to its offshore investigations in waters off Sakai, with Sumitomo, J-Power also plans similar investigations in other offshore areas, including Japan’s territorial as well as inland waters.