Toda Corporation, a player in the renewable energy sector, has announced a significant setback in its plans for the 17MW Goto City floating offshore wind farm. This delay, caused by the identification of defects in the project's floating structures, has prompted the company's subsidiary, Goto Floating Wind Farm, to revise its initial project timeline.
Originally slated for a January 2024 launch, the startup date for this ambitious venture has now been pushed back by two years, with the new operational date set for January 2026.
See also: GCube Insurance Report Calls for Action to Address Rising Risk Landscape in Offshore Wind Sector
The project's revised timeline comes in the wake of an application filed by Toda Corporation to amend the site's public occupancy plan. This application, which sought to reschedule the wind farm's operational date, has been approved by both the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.
Toda Corporation has been proactive in addressing the issues that led to this delay. The company conducted a thorough investigation into the causes of the defects and explored potential countermeasures. Corrective actions have already been taken on two of the project's floating structures, and construction work at the onshore yard has resumed.
See also: Voltalia Inaugurates UK's Largest Solar Park in Collaboration with City of London Corporation
Furthermore, the company has announced plans to carry out comprehensive inspections on an already-installed platform offshore to ascertain the presence of any defects. In a significant move, one of the three floating structures, situated off the coast of Sakiyama, will be brought to the yard in Fukue Port. Here, its integrity will be rigorously examined, with the findings guiding decisions on how to proceed with the remaining two structures.
The financial implications of addressing these defects have not been insignificant. Toda Corporation has recorded the associated costs as a loss for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023. This setback underscores the complexities and challenges involved in the development of offshore wind projects, highlighting the importance of meticulous planning and rigorous quality control in the renewable energy sector.
