Japan targets floating wind farms for its deep coastal waters

Japan targets floating wind farms for its deep coastal waters

RWE Renewables and have signed an agreement that will see the two businesses "jointly study the feasibility of a large-scale floating offshore wind project" in waters off Japan's coast. In a statement issued Monday, RWE Renewables' Sven Utermöhlen said his firm saw "great potential for floating wind farms worldwide — but especially in countries with deeper coastal waters, like Japan." Indeed, the project announced Monday is not the only one in Japan focused on floating offshore wind. In July, self-described "cleantech company" BW Ideol said it had signed a joint development agreement with energy firm ENEOS Corporation to develop a "commercial-scale floating offshore wind farm" in waters off Japan's coast. In June, authorities in Japan said a consortium made up of six companies — Toda Corporation, , Kansai Electric Power, ENEOS Corporation, and — had been selected to develop a 16.8 megawatt floating offshore wind farm in waters off the coast of Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture. There were no other bidders for the project. Floating offshore wind turbines are different to bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines that are rooted to the seabed. By contrast, describes floating turbines as being "deployed on top of floating structures that are secured to the seabed