Japan's first offshore wind turbines have started trial operations in Setana, a small coastal town in southern Hokkaido on the Japan Sea. The two 600 kW turbines, installed at the Port of Setana, have enough generating capacity to meet the demand of about 1,000 households. The town plans to start selling the generated electricity to Hokkaido Electric Power Co. in April 2004.

The set of turbines, made by Vestas Wind Systems A/S of Denmark, has been nicknamed "Kazamidori" (meaning "weathercock") by the local people.

The total cost of the project amounted to 678 million yen (U.S. $6.11 million). The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development, or NEDO, subsidized 45 percent of the cost and the town covered the rest by issuing bonds.




Posted: 2004/01/26 09:02:11 AM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Government , Local government , Non-manufacturing industry