GE Renewable Energy to provide 22 turbines for Akita Katagami wind farm

The project will provide 66MW of power.

GE Renewable Energy announced an agreement with Shimizu Corporation to supply 22 units of GE’s 3.2-103 wind turbines, for the Akita Katagami wind farm in the Akita prefecture in northern Japan.

A Special Purpose Company (SPC) made up of Venti Japan, Mitsubishi Power Corp and C-Tech will operate the wind farm once it is commissioned. The project will provide 66 MW of power, enough to power the equivalent of 40,000 homes in Japan. The deal also includes a 15-year service agreement for the wind farm, and GE will establish a satellite facility for service and maintenance in Akita.

The Akita Katagami wind farm will have the country’s largest installation in terms of wind farm capacity of GE’s 3.2*-103 turbines, which were designed for Japan’s unique wind conditions and terrain. The turbines, which will be the largest class of wind turbines in Japan, feature strengthened drive trains, upgraded electrical systems, advanced lighting protection, and reinforced towers and blades. Japan has a strong demand for cost-competitive renewable energy, and the wind power produced from these turbines will generate power at a lower cost rather than previous models currently used in the region.

Construction of the Akita Katagami Wind Farm has begun in April 2017, and commercial operation will begin in May 2020. The service and maintenance agreement also includes digital solution proposals over the course of the contract.

The maximum output per unit is limited to 3MW in Akita Katagami wind farm.