Japanese trading firm Marubeni started commercial operation based on the feed-in tariff program for renewable energy at Akita Port offshore wind farm, it said in a statement.
 
Japan's offshore wind power market, part of the country's goal to be carbon neutral by 2050, is set to grow as the government eyes installing up to 10 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030, and up to 45 gigawatts by 2040.
 
Marubeni's 100 billion yen ($768 million) project of two wind farms with 140 megawatt capacity at Akita Port and Noshiro Port in northern Akita prefecture is Japan's first large-scale commercial offshore wind power project.
 
With its Noshiro Port offshore wind farm operating since late December last year, the launch of the Akita Port farm brings the project to the full-scale operation, Marubeni said.
 
Power from the two wind farms will be sold to Tohoku Electric Power for 20 years under a power purchase agreement based on the feed-in tariff program.
 
Marubeni's 12 partners include Obayashi, Tohoku Sustainable and Renewable Energy, Cosmo Eco Power, Kansai Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power. -Reuters