AsiaOffshoreRenewables

K Line joins project to develop next-gen floating wind turbines

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has joined a demonstration project aimed at developing cheaper floating offshore wind turbines that can be produced in Japan.

Five partnering companies, which also include J-Power, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Chubu Electric and floating offshore wind turbine developer Albatross Technology, will jointly develop a small-scale (20 kW) next-generation experimental floating axis wind turbine that is expected to reduce costs and increase the domestic production ratio.

There is growing interest in floating offshore wind power in Japan because it can be deployed in deep water, but cost-cutting will be essential to promote its widespread adoption.

The floating axis wind turbine (FAWT) is a concept under which a vertical-axis wind turbine is supported by a rotating cylindrical floating foundation. According to developers, the wind turbine can be tilted 20 degrees at maximum output, as it is designed to maintain effectiveness even when tilted. This allows for downsizing of the floating foundation and a significant reduction in equipment costs.

“The wind turbine section can be manufactured at low cost through continuous pultrusion, a molding process used to form composite materials into long shapes, with carbon fiber reinforced plastics. By taking advantage of the characteristics to install vertical axis wind turbines close to sea level due to their specific characteristics, operation and maintenance costs for the major apparatus are also anticipated to be substantially lower,” developers said in a release.

The wind turbine blades can be manufactured in lengthwise sections with the same cross-sectional shape, eliminating the need for large-scale manufacturing facilities. Japanese companies also hold around 80% of the market share for carbon fiber, which is used in the carbon composite for these wind turbines.

J-Power, Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering and Albatross are jointly conducting initial studies of the FAWT concept. The next stage of the project will see small-scale experimental versions of the FAWT installed in Japanese waters. After confirming the validity of the analysis and design methods, this could lead to a megawatt-scale offshore demonstration project.

The wind turbine section of the small-scale experimental units will be developed by Fukui Fibertech, and the floating section will be developed by Mirai Ships. The carbon composite material molding technology will be developed in partnership with the Innovative Composite Center (ICC) at the Kanazawa Institute of Technology, and the motion analysis technology will be developed in partnership with Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering.

Adis Ajdin

Adis is an experienced news reporter with a background in finance, media and education. He has written across the spectrum of offshore energy and ocean industries for many years and is a member of International Federation of Journalists. Previously he had written for Navingo media group titles including Offshore Energy, Subsea World News and Marine Energy.
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