Japan's First Offshore Wind Turbines

Japan's first offshore wind turbines are under construction in Setana, Hokkaido. The town plans to install two 600 kW turbines by February 2004 and start selling their total generating capacity of 1200 kW to Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc. in April 2004. Annual income from the transaction is expected to be about 50 million yen (about U.S. $0.42 million).<br><br>More electricity can be produced offshore than on land because stronger and more constant winds blow over water. The Port of Setana is favorably located, as strong seasonal winds blow in winter and "yamase", or winds blowing down from over the mountains, blow in summer, giving the port a yearly average wind velocity of 7.9 meters per second.<br><br>Setana Town plans to build foundations for the turbines at a depth of 13 meters off the coast behind its outer east breakwater, and install two wind turbines about 285 meters apart. These will be connected to a transformer substation by an approximately 1.2-kilometer-long undersea cable.<br><br>The town expects these offshore wind turbines to invigorate the region and improve the global environment by producing clean energy.<br><br>




Posted: 2003/09/27 11:51:50 AM
Japanese version