The partners would first carry out a study to select a project to develop off the coast of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island.
Following construction and the start of operations at the Kyushu project, E.on and Kyuden would then consider whether to expand the partnership to other regions of Japan.
Utility-developer E.on recently entered the Japanese wind market with the opening of a regional office in Tokyo.
E.on owns stakes in more than 2.4GW of operational offshore wind capacity in Europe, according to “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Intelligence, the research and data division of “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç.
Meanwhile, Kyuden Mirai — a subsidiary of Japanese utility Kyushu Electric Power Company — is developing the 220MW Hibiki-nada offshore wind project, off the coast of Kyushu, and aims to further expand its offshore activities.
It also operates the 50.4MW Nagashima onshore wind project in Kagoshima prefecture, south-west Kyushu.
Japan has just 65MW of offshore wind capacity currently installed, according to “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Intelligence.
In December 2018, Japan's parliament enabling development rights for offshore wind zones to be auctioned from this spring.
The ministry of economy, trade and industry is currently preparing the regulatory details for the auction, the Japanese Wind Power Association told “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç.
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