Current:Home > InvestJapan Plans Floating Wind Turbines for Tsunami-Stricken Fukushima Coast -InvestTomorrow
Japan Plans Floating Wind Turbines for Tsunami-Stricken Fukushima Coast
View
Date:2025-04-16 20:08:11
Japan will join the race to develop floating wind turbines to use in deepwater off its tsunami-stricken northern Pacific coast as it rethinks energy sources after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
It aims to outpace the leaders in the sector in Europe, trade ministry official Masanori Sato said on Tuesday.
“In order to take lead in offshore wind power, we want domestic studies and developments to take place and manufacturers to boost capabilities,” said Sato.
“From the viewpoint of supporting reconstruction and promoting wind power, we believe it is good to pursue research and development for offshore wind farms,” he said.
In the next five years, Japan plans to spend 10 to 20 billion yen ($130 to $260 million) to install six or more floating turbines off the northeast coast. It will work with firms including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries, Sato said.
Globally, Norway leads the way on floating turbines with a 2009 pilot project while other countries including Britain and Portugal have studied the technology.
Japan is compiling a third emergency budget likely to be more than 10 trillion yen ($130 billion) to rebuild its northeastern coast after the earthquake and tsunami hit in March, leaving 20,000 dead or missing and triggering the world’s worst nuclear crisis in 25 years at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Last month its parliament enacted a bill to promote investment in renewables.
Japan, one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, has been studying whether it can install conventional offshore wind turbines in an effort to cut its carbon emissions but thinks floated turbines could suit its waters better.
After the initial five-year programme, the trade ministry hopes to develop as early as 2020 an offshore wind farm off the northeastern coast with the capacity of about 1,000 Megawatts, said Hiroyuki Iijima, another official at the trade ministry.
But its success depends on the profitability of floating turbines as well as winning over local fishermen, Iijima added.
Wind power accounts for less than 1 percent of Japan’s power demand. A government panel is set to start reviewing as early as this month Japan’s energy targets. It had aimed to boost nuclear capacity to meet over half of power demand by 2030 by building 13 new reactors.
Atomic power helped meet some 30 percent of Japan’s power prior to the quake. Only 11 out of 54 nuclear reactors are operating now as reactors halted for maintenance checks have been kept shut.
(Editing by William Hardy)
veryGood! (59243)
Related
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Shark attacks woman walking in knee-deep water after midnight in New Zealand
- Woman who said her murdered family didn't deserve this in 2015 is now arrested in their killings
- Indictment against high-ranking Hezbollah figure says he helped plan deadly 1994 Argentina bombing
- Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation was no bueno
- Abuse in the machine: Study shows AI image-generators being trained on explicit photos of children
- Former Chelsea owner Abramovich loses legal action against EU sanctions
- Florida deputy’s legal team says he didn’t have an obligation to stop Parkland school shooter
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Overly broad terrorist watchlist poses national security risks, Senate report says
Ranking
- Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation was no bueno
- Indictment against high-ranking Hezbollah figure says he helped plan deadly 1994 Argentina bombing
- Kentucky’s Democratic governor refers to Trump’s anti-immigrant language as dangerous, dehumanizing
- Paige DeSorbo & Hannah Berner New Year Eve's Fashion Guide to Bring That Main Character Energy in 2024
- Jay Kanter, veteran Hollywood producer and Marlon Brando agent, dies at 97: Reports
- Xfinity hack affects nearly 36 million customers. Here's what to know.
- Former Chelsea owner Abramovich loses legal action against EU sanctions
- Humblest Christmas tree in the world sells for more than $4,000 at auction
Recommendation
Charges: D'Vontaye Mitchell died after being held down for about 9 minutes
New 'Washington Post' CEO accused of Murdoch tabloid hacking cover-up
Ethiopia and Egypt say no agreement in latest talks over a contentious dam on the Nile
Paige DeSorbo & Hannah Berner New Year Eve's Fashion Guide to Bring That Main Character Energy in 2024
American news website Axios laying off dozens of employees
A new test could save arthritis patients time, money and pain. But will it be used?
Neighbors describe frantic effort to enter burning Arizona home where 5 kids died: Screaming at the tops of our lungs
The Bachelor Season 28: Meet the Contestants Competing for Joey Graziadei's Heart