NSK Selected for Large-scale Offshore Wind Turbine Research Project

NSK has been selected to join a major research project funded by the Japanese Government's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The project will pursue research to enable the rapid large-scale deployment of floating offshore wind turbines in Japan.

Project Members

NSK, Kyushu University (Multiscale Offshore Wind Research Division), Toshiba Energy Systems Corporation, and Hitachi Zosen Corporation. The project will be led by Professor Takanori Uchida of Kyushu University.

Research Theme

Research and Development of Evaluation Technology for Floating Wind Turbine Wake Effect Phenomena Using Large Wind Tunnel Facilities

Background

The Japanese government has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and offshore floating wind power generation is expected to be a part of this goal. In wind turbines, a phenomenon called the wake effect* occurs downwind of the turbine as the blades rotate. In large-scale offshore wind farms consisting of multiple wind turbines, this effect causes negative effects such as increased turbulence and a decrease in the amount of electricity generated by wind turbines on the downwind side and an increase in the load acting on the wind turbine.

In order to realize large-scale offshore wind farms in Japan as quickly and appropriately as possible, an important issue is developing technology to accurately understand and precisely predict the wake effect and establishing innovative optimal design methods for Japan's geographical context.

Research Details

Using a large wind tunnel facility at Kyushu University, the research will aim to accurately understand the wake effect unique to floating wind turbines and their mutual interference phenomena, to develop technology for their prediction and evaluation, and to propose necessary technology development for the future with an eye toward industry-academia collaboration. The wake effect in floating wind turbines is mostly unstudied and this research is expected to sequentially solve technical issues for large-scale floating offshore wind farms and make a significant contribution to enabling their introduction at scale.

Through the research in this project, NSK aims to improve the reliability of bearings for wind turbines by understanding the characteristics of load changes acting on wind turbines due to the wake effect, thereby contributing to the future spread of wind power generation. The NSK Group is promoting ESG management and will pursue opportunities for business growth and contribute to a sustainable society by leveraging its technological capabilities that contribute to global environmental conservation.