Japan Is Gearing Up To Build The World’s Largest Floating Wind Turbine

Japan’s Osaka University and civil engineering company Toda are coming together to help the country move towards a more energy-efficient future by creating the world’s largest floating wind turbine.
 
Today, Toda operates Japan’s first commercial floating offshore energy generators in Nagasaki, with a maximum output of just 2 megawatts. However, the new project is set to increase that amount by over seven times to an output of 15 megawatts.
 
In order to achieve this, the university is setting up a research course consisting of 10 wind turbine and marine energy researchers from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering next year. After that, the team will set out on a mission to determine the best way to mass-produce the parts and create simulations to understand the load better. 
 
An initial 10-megawatt demonstration product is expected to be ready by 2024 to test the efficacy of the research.
 
By 2025, the official new turbine with a blade span of 200 meters (656 feet) is set to head out to sea. This would put it at three times the size of the average generator.
 
According to Nikkei Asia, Japan is diving into the floating wind turbine energy sector for several reasons. One would be that anchoring it to the sea floor is exceptionally costly, and a shallow sea bed is required for such processes. Japan, unfortunately, is surrounded by a deep ocean.

Secondly, a larger turbine means less energy generation is needed. The solution would demand less space, all while allowing fishing operations could continue.
 
 
 
[via PC Mag and Nikkei Asia, cover photo 29776166 © Warenemy | Dreamstime.com]