Japan's push for renewable energy has taken a significant step forward with the start of construction of one of the country's largest offshore wind power plants. The Hibiki-nada Offshore Wind Farm, located off the coast of Kitakyushu, will have a capacity of 220,000 kilowatts and generate an estimated 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This output is equivalent to the power consumption of 170,000 households, making a significant contribution to the country's energy needs.
Backed by a subsidiary of Kyushu Electric Power Co., Saibu Gas Co., and Kyudenko Corp, Hibiki Wind Energy Co. will operate the wind farm, which is scheduled to launch operations off the northern coast of Kyushu in fiscal 2025. The company will install 25 wind turbines on the ocean floor in four areas around 2 to 10 kilometers off the coast, at a cost of about ¥170 billion.
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The turbines, manufactured by Danish firm Vestas Wind Systems A/S, will reach a height of 200 meters above sea level, with blades spanning a diameter of 174 meters. The wind farm's energy will be sold to the transmission and distribution company of Kyushu Electric Power for ¥36 per kilowatt-hour under the feed-in tariff scheme.
The Hibiki-nada Offshore Wind Farm is a significant development for Japan's renewable energy ambitions. Despite being an archipelago surrounded by oceans, the country has been slow to adopt offshore wind technology, lagging behind European countries. However, the government is now actively promoting the sector and aiming to achieve a wind power target of 30 million-45 million kilowatts by 2040, equivalent to about 40 nuclear power plants.
To achieve this, areas of Japan that meet criteria such as wind strength, wave height, and impact on the fishing industry have been designated as “promotion zones.” Japan's first large-scale offshore wind turbine began commercial operation in December off Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture, and a wind farm comprising floating turbines is under development off the coast of Goto in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Local governments in coastal regions are actively seeking to attract wind farms to revitalize their economies, as such facilities are thought to have a ripple effect. Each wind turbine has about 20,000 parts, sparking hopes that “manufacturing, maintenance, and logistics firms will establish bases [in the community] in the future,” according to Kitakyushu Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi. “Such companies could become pillars of [the local] industry.”
In conclusion, the Hibiki-nada Offshore Wind Farm marks an important milestone for Japan's renewable energy sector. As the country looks to reduce its reliance on nuclear power and fossil fuels, offshore wind power has the potential to become an indispensable energy source for achieving carbon neutrality. The Hibiki-nada project is not only a significant development for the country's energy needs but also an opportunity to stimulate economic growth in the local community.
