Publication date: Jan 27, 2025 New Company Aims to Establish Offshore Wind Construction System
New Company Aims to Establish Offshore Wind Construction System
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has announced that it has approved the establishment of the Floating Offshore Wind Power Construction System Technology Research Association (FLOWCON), a new corporation that aims to establish a floating offshore wind power construction system. The organisation will focus on optimal construction methods for the mass introduction of floating wind turbines, which are considered to have high potential in Japan’s waters.
Seven companies, including construction companies specializing in offshore civil engineering work, engineering companies manufacturing floating foundations, and heavy equipment manufacturers, will participate as members. These companies are Penta-Ocean Construction, Toa Corporation, Toyo Construction, Nippon Steel Engineering, Wakachiku Construction, IHI Transport Machinery, and Sumitomo Heavy Industries. Three other companies will also participate as supporting members.
Objectives and Collaboration in Offshore Wind Construction
FLOWCON’s main objectives are to achieve large-scale, rapid construction of floating structures and reasonable construction costs. To this end, it intends to establish three working groups (WGs):
- WG1 will conduct research on construction systems for floating structures.
- WG2 will develop the necessary technology for offshore work bases.
- WG3 will develop a weather forecasting system for offshore construction.
The Floating Offshore Wind Power Research Association (FLOWRA), which consists of power generation companies, including major electric power companies such as Tohoku EPCo and Kansai EPCo, began examining floating wind turbine technology in March 2022. The new FLOWCON organisation will consist of companies contracted by power generation companies to perform construction work and manufacture floating foundations, and the new corporation is considering technical exchanges with FLOWRA.
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