Pattern starts building battery-backed Japanese offshore wind farm

The US developer expects both the wind and storage parts of the 112MW Ishikari Ishikari (112MW) OffshoreIshikari Bay, Japan, Asia-Pacific Click to see full details project to go into operation by December 2023. 

It has a 20-year power purchase agreement with Hokkaido Electric Power Network for the project’s entire power output. 

The wind farm, located approximately 3km from the shore of Ishikari Bay in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, is owned by Pattern Energy and its majority-owned Japanese unit Green Power Investment Corporation (GPI). 

It will use 14 of Siemens Gamesa 8.0MW SG 8.0-167 DD offshore turbines. The turbine is designed to meet local codes and standards regarding typhoons, seismic activities and 50Hz operation. The turbine, pile foundation, jacket and tower have received ClassNK certification, confirming it meets the technical standards required by the Japanese government to approve construction.

“This historic project is Japan’s largest combined offshore wind and power storage facility and the first installation of an 8MW offshore wind turbine in the country,” said Mike Garland, chief executive of Pattern Energy. He added: “The Ishikari project is the culmination of more than 15 years of planning. The group of leading financial institutions that is backing this project demonstrates the strong demand for innovative clean power solutions.”

Financing was jointly arranged by Japanese lenders MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Mizuho Bank, Development Bank of Japan, and Shinsei Bank, as well as French multinational investor Societe Generale. 

Pattern Energy has eight wind and solar facilities operating or under construction in Japan.. 

Green Power Investment Corporation is a Japanese developer, owner and operator of renewable energy assets founded by Toshio Hori, who built some of the first large wind power projects in Japan, the US and Europe. Its wind development portfolio totals more than 4GW.