Development of a Floating Type Ocean Current Turbine

Based on research results at Takagi Laboratory, we are developing a floating-type ocean current turbine to utilize the energy of the Kuroshio Current, which has not been used for power generation yet in the world. In 2011, Takagi Lab., NEDO, IHI Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Mitsui & Co. Strategic Research Institute started R&D. In 2015, IHI Corp. and NEDO started the designing and construction of a 100kW-class prototype, and in August of 2017, the world's first 100kW-class floating-type ocean current turbine power generation test was conducted off the coast of Kuchinoshima in the Tokara Islands. In this test, Takagi Laboratory supplied a motion simulator of the ocean current turbine and helped to measure and analyze the ocean current data. In the future, starting with the supply of electric energy to remote islands using the 100kW-class device, we will expand the size and increase the number of devices to construct a big power generation farm which will contribute to the reduction of GHG emission. We are also conducting research on social acceptability, an important issue in the construction of such large farms and the sustainable use of common waters.

- Professor Takuji Waseda ( Graduate School of Frontier Sciences)
- Associate Professor Daisuke Kitazawa (Institute of Industry Sciences)
- New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
- IHI Corporation
- Mitsui & Co. Strategic Research Institute

- Takeda, K., Sakata, K. and Takagi, K. :Motion Simulation of a Twin-Type Ocean Current Turbine, J.of the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, Vol.18, p55-61､2013 (in Japanese)
- Shibata, M. and Takagi, K. : A Study on Power Cable Loads for a Floating Ocean Current Turbine, J.of the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, Vol.20､pp99-108､2014 (in Japanese)
- Gonoji, T. and Takagi, K. :Motion of a Twin-Rotor Ocean Current Turbine in Transient State, J.of the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, Vol.20､pp157-164､2014 (in Japanese)
- Kiyomatsu, k., Kodaira, T., Kadomoto, Y., Waseda, T. and Takagi, K.:ADCP measurements of ocean currents near Miyake Island, J.of the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, Vol.20､pp147-156､2014 (in Japanese)
- Makino, K., Takagi, K., Kiyomatsu, K., Waseda, T. and Kadomoto, Y. : Utilization of Current Information for Ocean Current Turbine Design, J.of the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, Vol.22､pp207-215､2015 (in Japanese)