A consortium led by Spanish energy giant Iberdrola is celebrating a significant win after securing the rights to develop a 375MW wind farm off the coast of Japan. The GK Happo Nioshiro Offshore Wind partnership, which includes Iberdrola, Japan Renewable Energy Co, and Tohoku Electric Power Co, emerged victorious in Japan's latest auction.
The project, located off Happo Town and Noshiro City in Akita Prefecture on Honshu, Japan's main island, will see Danish manufacturer Vestas supplying 25 of its 15MW turbines. This development marks a further boost for Europe's influence in Japan's renewable energy sector.
Xabier Viteri, Global Director of Iberdrola's renewables business, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The positive update for GK Happo Noshiro Offshore Wind is very good news, supplementing the pipeline of potential offshore wind projects for the end of this decade in several countries. Japan has ambitious targets for offshore wind development, and it is a market Iberdrola has been contributing to for several years now. This latest development expands our options to deliver new projects in the years ahead.”
The wind farm is scheduled to commence operations in June 2029, contributing to Japan's efforts to expand its offshore wind capacity and achieve its renewable energy targets.