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November 14, 2013

Ceremony of Fukushima Floating Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration Project

On November 11th, a kick-off ceremony of “Fukushima floating offshore wind farm demonstration project (Fukushima FORWARD)” was held in Iwaki City, Fukushima prefecture. In the first phase of the project commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry, one 2MW downwind floating wind turbine and 66kV floating substation were installed 20km off the coast of Fukushima. The operation and demonstration of the power station started today. In the second phase, two world largest 7MW hydraulic drive wind turbines will be installed before 2015.

In the speech at the ceremony, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akabane said, “it is the mission of Japanese government to make Fukushima a pioneer of renewable energy. We will do our best to make Fukushima the base for industry accumulation and job creation.” As a guest, Fukushima’s Governor Sato said “Fukushima is making progress step by step for the future. Offshore power station is a symbol of its advancement” and expressed what he expects in the project. Other guests, Representative Sakamoto, Councilor Iwaki, Councilor Masuko, Representative Yoshino, Councilor Wakamatsu, Mr. Shimizu the Mayor of Iwaki and Mr. Nozaki the Chairman of Fishery Cooperatives gave words of congratulations.

160 people from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, other ministries and agencies, Fukushima and other local governments, local business communities, fishermen's cooperative association and news companies attended the ceremony to celebrate the commissioning of the world's first floating offshore wind farm.

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