MHI Vestas has won the sector’s first turbine order for a utility-scale offshore wind farm in Japan.
The Danish-Japanese joint venture will supply 33 V117-4.2MW onshore turbines of its parent Vestas for offshore use at the Akita and Noshiro offshore wind projects that have a combined output of 139MW. Client Akita Offshore Wind Corporation (AOW) had opted for the onshore version as at the time of the original contract drafting, the Vestas machines were the only typhoon-proof models available.
“We are pleased to secure the firm order to support AOW in their development of the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Farm Project,” said MHI Vestas chief sales officer Henrik Jensen.
“As Japan progresses towards a clean energy future powered by offshore wind, MHI Vestas and our parent companies, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Vestas, are ready to play our part.”
MHI Vestas winning the first firm order for a large offshore wind project in Japan is not surprising, given Mitsubishi’s part-ownership of the OEM, which according to comments by MHI Vestas chief executive Philippe Kavafyan to Recharge put it into “a different league” in Japan’s emerging offshore wind sector.
MHI Vestas will supply 13 turbines for the Akita site, and another 20 for the Noshiro site, to be placed on fixed-bottom foundations in relatively shallow waters of five to 30 metres.
Installation is expected to start in 2022, and will include up to 20-year service and maintenance agreements.
The electric power output from the farms will be fed through both the Akita and Noshiro ports in Akita prefecture, with an expected output of 55MW at Akita Port and 84MW at Noshiro Port.
AOW is a special purpose company led by Marubeni Corporation.
