ClassNK Issues Approval in Principle for 15 MW WindFloat TC Design Developed for Japanese Conditions
Principle Power and Tokyo Gas have obtained Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for a 15 MW-class floating offshore wind system based on WindFloat TC technology. This is the second Approval in Principle issued by ClassNK for the WindFloat® technology.
Principle Power has been active in Japan since 2016, when the company obtained from ClassNK the first AiP for a 5 MW project. Since then, the company supported the deployment and operation of 105 MW projects in Europe using up to 10 MW turbines and completed several pre-FEED and FEED studies for 15-20 MW projects.
More recently, Principle Power supported Tokyo Gas with the fabrication of a full-scale WindFloat® mock-up for a 15 MW-class turbine under the Green Innovation Fund program.
The AiP applies to a 15 MW-class floating offshore wind system using WindFloat TC foundations.
The technical assessment conducted by the Japanese classification society considered site-specific wind, wave and current conditions and reviewed the response of the floating foundation and station-keeping system under selected design load cases relevant to Japan, including tsunami conditions.
Working with Tokyo Gas, we have refined WindFloat® for Japan's unique conditions, building on more than a decade of proven operational experience and a strong understanding of the country's energy market and regional supply chain capabilities. Together, we have built a clear pathway to deploying cost-competitive floating wind projects with local industrial participation, supporting Japan's goal of installing at least 15 GW of floating wind capacity by 2040.
— Head of Japan - Principle Power
25 WindFloat Atlantic (Image: Principle Power / Ocean Winds)
