Press Release
Offshore Wind Power O&M Advancement Project Adopted as NEDO Green Innovation Fund Project for Reducing the Cost of Offshore Wind Power Generation
- Offshore Wind Power Operation and Maintenance Advancement Project -

January 21, 2022

TEPCO Renewable Power, Inc.
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation

Today, TEPCO Renewable Power, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “TEPCO RP”) and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation’s (hereinafter referred to as “Toshiba ESS”) offshore wind power operation and maintenance (O&M) advancement project (advancement of preventative maintenance/maintenance through the use of digital technology) (hereinafter referred to as “the project”) was adopted as a New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Green Innovation Fund project for reducing the cost of offshore wind power generation.

Offshore wind power generation is viewed as a trump card for using renewable energies as base load power sources, with the Japanese government setting an ambitious goal of “developing from 30 to 45 million kW of offshore wind power by 2040.” Making advancements in maintenance, which accounts for approximately 35% of the costs of offshore wind power, is a global issue that must be solved in order to expand the development of offshore wind farms.

This project, which will be tentatively implemented from FY2022 to FY2023, seeks to find ways to lower the cost of maintenance associated with floating offshore wind turbines that are expected to be constructed in the future. The project seeks to advance technology for the monitoring/inspection of floating foundations and mooring lines by using sensors and remotely operated vehicles (ROV), develop technology for automated external visual inspections of wind turbines with drones, use robots to automate the inspection of nacelle internals, and develop wind turbine integrity analysis services that leverage sensing data.

Through these initiatives, TEPCO RP shall maximize the gifts of nature to provide a stable and low-cost source of electricity, thereby contributing to the spread of renewable energies in Japan and overseas, and contribute to the creation of a clean and sustainable society and the development of industries rooted in the community.

By reducing the costs associated with offshore wind power by leveraging cutting-edge IoT/AI technologies to advance maintenance methods, and by building a supply chain for offshore wind power generation facilities, Toshiba ESS shall contribute to the development of offshore wind power generation in Japan and toward achieving carbon neutrality.