TIdal turbine maker OpenHydro, a DCNS company, is part of a consortium which has been selected by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment to supply a tidal turbine system for installation at Naru Strait, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
The consortium includes Kyuden Mirai Energy Co., Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., and NPO Nagasaki Marine Industry Cluster Promotion Association.
Site surveys will start later this year, with procurement activities, fabrication and cable laying due to start in 2017. OpenHydro's 2MW co-called Open-Centre Turbine unit will be built in France and shipped to Japan. The subsea base will be manufactured locally by Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co. who will also be responsible for all mobilization and deployment activities.
The turbine is planned for deployment in 2018 and will be subsequently connected to the grid. During the first year of operation, intensive tests will be conducted, the results of which will provide a reference for the build-out of commercial scale tidal arrays in Japan.
OpenHydro has incorporated OpenHydro Technology Japan, to manage and oversee the delivery of this demonstration project. It will also lead development activities in relation to future commercial scale schemes.
James Ives, OpenHydro, CEO, said: “This 16m [diameter] turbine will be the first commercial-scale tidal device to be deployed in Japanese waters. Through this demonstration project we will work with our Consortium partners to foster local skills and expertise. In future, we will manufacture devices for commercial scale arrays in Japan, underlining again the potential of the industry to create jobs and economic benefit where significant tidal resource is available. As such, this test device is an essential step in the development of a tidal industry in Japan.”