The Japanese government has selected two consortia to develop and operate offshore wind farms with a combined capacity of more than 1 GW in dedicated zones off the coasts of Aomori Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture.
Specifically, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) picked in a public tender JERA Co Inc, Green Power Investment Co Ltd (GPI) and Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc to build and operate the wind park off the southern side of Aomori in the Sea of Japan, and a joint venture between Marubeni Corp, The Kansai Electric Power Co Inc (KEPCO), a unit of BP Plc, Tokyo Gas Co Ltd and Marutaka Corp to realise the project off Yuza Town in Yamagata.
The wind farm to be built by the JERA-led consortium is planned with a capacity of 615 MW, made up of 41 units of 15-MW, fixed-bottom Siemens Gamesa turbines. The other project will have a capacity of 450 MW from 30 units of 15-MW Siemens Gamesa turbines, which will be fixed to the bottom as well.
Both are supposed to begin operation in June 2030.
JERA said separately that it plans to launch in September 2025 a global offshore wind joint venture with BP called JERA Nex bp "to enhance its expertise and strengthen its competitive fundraising capabilities."
