OpenHydro secures Japanese tidal turbine contract

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OpenHydro secures Japanese tidal turbine contract

OpenHydro, a DCNS company, is part of a consortium which has been selected by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment to supply a tidal turbine system for installation at Naru Strait, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture.

The consortium includes Kyuden Mirai Energy Co., Inc, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., Ltd. and NPO Nagasaki Marine Industry Cluster Promotion Association.

Site surveys will commence later this year, with procurement activities, fabrication and cable laying scheduled to start in 2017. The 2MW Open-Centre Turbine unit will be built in France and shipped to Japan. The subsea base will be manufactured locally by Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., Ltd. who will also be responsible for all mobilisation and deployment activities.

The turbine is planned for deployment in 2018 and will be subsequently connected to the grid. During the first year of operation, intensive tests will be conducted, the results of which will provide a reference for the build-out of commercial scale tidal arrays in Japan.

OpenHydro has incorporated OpenHydro Technology Japan, to manage and oversee the delivery of this demonstration project. It will also lead development activities in relation to future commercial scale schemes.

James Ives, OpenHydro, Chief Executive, said: “This 16-metre turbine will be the first commercial-scale tidal device to be deployed in Japanese waters. Through this demonstration project we will work with our Consortium partners to foster local skills and expertise. In future, we will manufacture devices for commercial scale arrays in Japan, underlining again the potential of the industry to create jobs and economic benefit where significant tidal resource is available. As such, this test device is an essential step in the development of a tidal industry in Japan.”

Source: www.openhydro .com

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.