As Japan pushes for zero-carbon energy, Nikkei reported on Saturday that Japanese company Toshiba and American company General Electric intend to create a local supply chain for offshore wind generating equipment.
Japan’s offshore wind sector is expected to expand as the government pushes for decarbonization by aiming to develop up to 10 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and up to 45 GW by 2040.
In order to create 1.8 GW of capacity in four locations, the government completed accepting proposals for the second round of offshore wind power tenders last month. The outcomes have not yet been disclosed. Mitsubishi won the first round of 1.7 GW capacities in 2021.
Around 100 small and medium-sized businesses will be involved in the equipment supply chain, with a focus on the locations where offshore wind capacity should be placed, according to Nikkei.
Nikkei also stated that Toshiba intends to begin production in 2026.
In order to make GE’s Haliade-X offshore wind turbines as competitive as feasible in Japan’s offshore wind auctions, the two companies formed a strategic alliance in 2021.
According to Japan Wind Power Association, GE will produce a total of 134 wind turbines with a 13 MW capacity each for the three offshore wind projects that the Mitsubishi-led consortiums won in the first round, which Toshiba would then put together.
