Fukushima floating turbine to start operating in November

JAPAN: The Marubeni-led consortium behind Japan's floating wind project 20 kilometres off the coast of Fukushima has said it expects the first turbine to come online in November.

The 11-member group has completed the installation of the high-voltage undersea cable and a dynamic cable, which follows the floating equipments' movements as well as wave and tide actions.

The cables connect the onshore substation, a 2MW floating wind turbine and a 66kV floating substation.

Shipbuilder Japan Marine United and the University of Tokyo developed the floating substation. The turbine, which rests on a semi-submersible foundation, was built by Mitsui.

The ¥18.8 billion ($189 million) Fukushima Mirai project has been sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry since March 2012.

Phase two, which is scheduled for commissioning in 2015, will see a 7MW Mitsubishi hydraulic turbine mounted on a three-column semi-submersible platform, also built by Mitsubishi.