Japanese trading house giant Sumitomo Corporation and fellow engineering firm JGC Corporation have teamed up on a potential supply of structural components for the floating offshore wind sector. The duo has signed an agreement aiming for a collaboration in the complete supply chain from detailed design, and manufacture to delivery. The partnership involves the development of steel and shipbuilding manufacturers as partners, order placement and manufacturing management as well as transportation of floater components to base ports. There is growing interest in floating offshore wind power in Japan and several other players including shipowners MOL and K Line have joined efforts to promote its widespread adoption. The new tie-up between Sumitomo and JGC said their goal will be to reduce costs, bolster efficiency and achieve mass production. “While there is a need to develop floatier components for larger wind turbines, technological development is still in its infancy, and a supply chain has yet to be established. The supply of floater components is not keeping up with ever-increasing demand for offshore wind turbines, which is likely to cause a bottleneck in the expansion of the FOW power generation market,” the companies said. Sumitomo has been active in the offshore wind sector with investments in heavy lift vessels and commissioning service operation vessels (CSVs) owner Integrated Wind Solutions (IWS). The company is also looking to utilise its Oshima Shipbuilding for the mass production technology of floaters. JGC on its part established a department dedicated to the offshore wind sector in 2018 and is currently working to enter and expand the business. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsJapan Offshore Wind