2022

Commencement of Commercial Operation of the Offshore Wind Farm Project at Akita Port and Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture

Dec. 22, 2022
Marubeni Corporation

Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) has been implementing the first large-scale offshore wind power project in Japan at Akita Port and Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture (hereinafter, “Offshore Wind Farms”), which is comprised of a bottom fixed offshore wind farm, an onshore substation, and transmission lines (hereinafter, “Offshore Wind Farm Project”). The Offshore Wind Farms were established on a commercial basis through a special purpose company called Akita Offshore Wind Corporation (hereinafter, “AOW”), jointly with OBAYASHI CORPORATION; Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.; Cosmo Eco Power Co., Ltd.; The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.; Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.; The Akita Bank, Ltd.; Ohmori Co., Ltd.; Sawakigumi Corporation; Kyowa Oil Co., Ltd.; Katokensetsu. Co. Ltd.; Kanpu Co., Ltd.; and Sankyo Co., Ltd.

Marubeni is pleased to announce that it started commercial operation based on the feed-in tariff program for renewable energy (hereinafter, “FIT”) at the Noshiro Port Offshore Wind Farm on December 22, 2022.

Noshiro Port Offshore Wind Farm (Source: Akita Offshore Wind Corporation) Noshiro Port Offshore Wind Farm (Source: Akita Offshore Wind Corporation)

The Akita Port Offshore Wind Farm is currently under commissioning work and its commercial operation based on FIT is expected in due course. AOW plans to operate and maintain the Offshore Wind Farms for 20 years with its basis located at Noshiro Port.

Marubeni was selected as the potential main owner and operator of Akita Prefecture’s “Public Offering for the Offshore Wind Farm Project” for the purpose of expanding the introduction of renewable energy and industrial development on February 5, 2015. Thereafter, Marubeni established AOW (in which the Joint Business Partners have also decided to invest), carried out a feasibility study, and reached a decision to implement the Offshore Wind Farm Project in February 2020.

Since the start of construction in February 2020, though there have been various restrictions under the COVID-19 crisis, the installation of a total of 33 wind turbines at Akita Port and Noshiro Port was completed in September 2022, and commercial operation has been achieved almost on the original schedule.

Marubeni set the Marubeni Long-Term Vision on Climate Change in March 2021 and positions Green Strategy as one of the basic principles to enhance corporate value in its Mid-Term Management Strategy GC2024. The company will take a progressive approach to expand its renewable energy business by making the most of its experience of the Offshore Wind Farm Project.

Outline of the Offshore Wind Farm Project:
Project Company: Akita Offshore Wind Corporation
 (Representative: Keiji Okagaki, President and CEO)
Site Location: Akita Port and Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture
Installed Capacity: Approximately 140MW
Project Cost: 100 billion Japanese Yen
Generation Type: Bottom-fixed offshore wind farm
Off-taker: Tohoku Electric Power Network Co., Inc.
Duration of PPA: 20 years

Site Map:

MAP

References:
・July 27, 2016
Joint Implementation of a Feasibility Study of the Offshore Wind Farm Project at Akita Port and Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture
https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2016/release/20160727_2.pdf

・February 3, 2020
Implementation of Offshore Wind Farm Project at Akita Port and Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture and Conclusion of the Loan Agreements
https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2020/release/20200203E.pdf

・March 9, 2021
The Marubeni Long-Term Vision on Climate Change: Towards Net-Zero GHG Emissions
https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2021/release/00022.html

・April 27, 2021
Commencement of Offshore Foundation Installation for Offshore Wind Farm Projects
at Akita Port and Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture
https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2021/release/00039.html

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