Sumitomo Corporation (SC), Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) and JGC Japan Corporation have joined forces to help advance the floating offshore wind (FOW) sector. Their collaborative effort aims to produce up to 100 floating turbine foundations annually by 2030.
The SC and JGC partnership is designed to confront logistical and infrastructure hurdles head-on, with a sharp vision for the future. SCOA’s Chicago-based Specialty Steel, Plate and Fabrication Department of the Metal Products Group, headed by Group General Manager Michitaka Tanoue and under Automotive Division General Manager Koji Fukushima, will spearhead the assessment of the United States market’s current capacity to support offshore wind while also working closely with JGC.
SC and JGC are committed to building the needed capabilities, not only through their American partnerships but also with global fabricators. Sumitomo is tapping into its vast network in steel supply chains, while JGC brings its modular fabrication experience honed from decades in the energy sector. SCOA’s Chicago office, in conjunction with JGC, can bridge gaps by leveraging partnerships and investments in shipbuilding infrastructure. One such investment is the expansion at Oshima Shipyard’s Koyagi yard in Nagasaki, which includes a large dry dock that could play an important role in reaching the ambitious goal of 100 floaters per year by 2030. While concrete designs for floaters may have a place, SC is currently focusing its efforts on steel as the material. In the coming years, SC and JGC aim to standardise and streamline the production process for wind floaters. The early focus will be on building a global network of fabricators and solving logistical bottlenecks, with the Chicago office continuing to play a key role in advancing United States-based projects.
