Akita Offshore Wind Corporation completes firm turbine supplier agreement with MHI Vestas for the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Farm Project.
In a sector first for a utility-scale project in Japan, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has completed firm and unconditional orders to supply turbines for the Akita and Noshiro offshore wind farms, jointly referred to as the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Farm Project. The wind farms have an expected combined output of 139 MW.
MHI Vestas will supply 33 V117-4.2 MW turbines in total, to be installed with fixed-bottom foundations at both sites. Installation is expected to commence in 2022, and will include a maximum 20-year (subject to the options being exercised) service and maintenance agreements.
13 turbines will be supplied at the Akita site, while the Noshiro site will incorporate 20 turbines. In total, the projects will supply the equivalent of nearly 130,000 homes.
The electric power output from the farms will be fed through both the Akita and Noshiro ports in Akita Prefecture, with an expected output of 55 MW at Akita Port and 84 MW at Noshiro Port.
AOW is a special purpose company led by Marubeni Corporation, with additional Japanese project sponsors providing development support to harness Japan’s abundant wind resources for clean, renewable power.
MHI Vestas’ first firm order in Japan signals a budding maturation of the offshore wind sector in the country.