Toyo Construction Co., Ltd. (the “Company”), MODEC, Inc., JERA Co., Ltd., and Furukawa
Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (hereinafter jointly the “Consortium”), today launched a subsea ground
survey (the “Survey”) in Ishikari Bay, Hokkaido, in preparation for verification testing of power
generation using tension leg platform (“TLP” *1) floating offshore wind turbines.
The survey is part of the “Project to Develop Cost-Reducing Technology for TLP Floating
Offshore Wind Turbines,”* 2 which the Consortium was selected to conduct by the New Energy
and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under its Green Innovation Fund
program, and aims to understand the geotechnical structure and other characteristics of the
seabed, which are necessary for verification testing, in the sea area assumed by JERA Co.,
Ltd.
The Consortium will move forward in conducting surveys and studying plans in anticipation
of future verification testing of power generation using TLP floating offshore wind turbines. In
formulating plans for verification testing, the Consortium will continue to consult with local
fishing industry, residents, government administrations, and other stakeholders to ensure their
understanding.
Based on results of the seabed survey, the Company will promote the establishment of
design technique for mooring foundation and low-cost construction technology at mooring
works.
The Company raises the offshore-wind-power related business as a “growth driver” and is
promoting the business to make it our future core business. Particularly, we put priority and
focus on developing technologies for lowering costs related to the offshore wind power
generation business.
The Company will contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050, engaging in
various initiatives for offshore wind power generation.
Conceptual drawing of TLP [Source: MODEC]
Survey Vessel [Source: JERA]
*1 TLP (Tension Leg Platform “tension mooring”) system is the method for mooring floating by
tension mooring to a seafloor foundation. TLP systems are expected to reduce the cost of power
generation because the high stability of floating body in the ocean wave enables installation of
large 15 MW-class wind turbines, which have the potential to become mainstream in the future, on
compact floating platforms. In addition, TLP mooring lines are expected to be more socially
acceptable than other mooring systems because they can reduce the space occupied under the
sea by 1/1,000 approximately and have less impact on existing businesses such as the fishing
industry and ship operations.
*2 “Project to Develop Cost-Reducing Technology for TLP Floating Offshore Wind Turbines” for
the realization of the 2050 Carbon Neutral Declaration by the governments of Japan, proposed by
NEDO under its Green Innovation Fund program【R&D item: Phase 1-②】The component
technology development project for approximately two years: the Consortium, including the
Company, applied to the technology development program for cost reduction of manufacture and
installation of floating foundation, and was accepted on January 21, 2022.
In addition to conducting simulations and demonstrations of component technologies previously
studied by each company — mooring foundations by the Company , floating and mooring systems
by MODEC, and power transmission systems by Furukawa Electric — a basic plan for a 15 MW-
class power generation demonstration facility will be drawn up based on design and environmental
parameters provided by JERA. The Consortium will also begin considering supply chains for mass
production and cost reduction with the aim of realizing commercial projects following the power
generation demonstration.
PDF version is available. Please see here.
https://www.toyo-const.co.jp/en/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220819_eng.pdf
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