Japan’s first offshore wind farm rising in Fukushima

It will soon become the world’s largest.

The first wind turbine has been installed at the wind farm site, marking the beginning of the construction process’ first phase. The 2 MW wind turbine made by Hitachi Ltd. and mounted to a semisubmersible structure is expected to start running in mid-October.

A group led by Marubeni Corporation is building the floating wind farm off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, aiming to commercialize the unproven technology and create a new industry in the region.

The project will include a floating substation that will be the first of its kind. It will be located about 20 km from Fukushima’s coastline in 120 meter deep waters.

The Marubeni group is planning to install two more wind turbines, each with a capacity of 7 MW. The government said capacity may be expanded to 1,000 MW.

By 2020, dozens of giant wind turbines should produce twice as much power as the world’s current biggest offshore wind farm at Greater Gabbard off the UK’s Suffolk coast.