Japan's Environment Ministry is testing an offshore floating wind turbine prototype as part of a project that aims to build a low-cost floating wind farm about 1 km off Kabashima island.
The turbine, which has a 22 meter rotor and generates 100kW, started operation in August last year. The Environment Ministry plans to set up a wind turbine with an 80-meter- rotor for experimental use this summer. This turbine would be able to generate 2MW. Commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, research is under way for a similar project off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, with construction for three types of offshore floating wind turbines set to begin this summer.
