Japan offshore wind project secures conformity certification

Commercial operations targeted for June 2028.

The offshore wind power project off the coast of Oga City, Katagami City, and Akita City in Akita Prefecture has received a certificate of conformity from Bureau Veritas Japan Co., Ltd. following the successful completion of a conformity assessment against Japanese technical standards.

The certification confirms that the project's wind power generation facilities comply with Japanese legal and technical requirements and completes the design certification process.

The company said it marks a major milestone under Japan's Electricity Business Act and clears the way for the next stage of construction planning.

The project previously received a certificate of compliance with the technical standards under the Ports and Harbours Act from the Coastal Development Institute of Technology (CDIT) on 1 June.

Kajima Corporation, together with Kobori Research Complex Inc. and COWI A/S, led the monopile foundation design, while Vestas and MHI Vestas Japan Co., Ltd. were responsible for the wind turbine and tower design. A.O.V. Arup & Partners Japan Limited served as the owner's engineer.

The certification process included site condition assessments, design basis evaluations, integrated load analyses, and support structure design.

The project is the first fixed-bottom offshore wind project in Japan's general sea areas awarded through a public tender, the first in the country to use wind turbines exceeding 10 MW, and the world's first 15 MW-class fixed-bottom offshore wind project designed with seismic considerations.

Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in June 2028.