Japanese consortium to study floating vertical axis wind turbines

A consortium of companies has been selected in Japan to conduct a feasibility study in connection with the development of large-scale floating vertical axis wind turbines, the members of this group announced today.

The award was given by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under a public call for projects to develop next-generation technologies to boost the use of floating offshore wind power in the country.

The consortium in question comprises Albatross Technology Inc, Electric Power Development Co Ltd (TYO:9513), also known as J-Power, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc (TYO:9501), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (TYO:9107), and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine &
Engineering Co Ltd.

They said in a joint statement that this study should verify the commercial viability of large-scale floating vertical axis units by conducting design work aiming at obtaining basic design approval.

The partners also note that large-scale vertical axis wind turbines can achieve efficiency comparable to that of conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines but through the use of smaller and more cost-effective floating structures.

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