2-megawatt tidal power plant set to be put to test off Nagasaki

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FUKUOKA--A test run is planned for what would be the first large-scale tidal power station in Japan.

The facility, off Goto city in Nagasaki Prefecture, has a 2-megawatt output capacity and is scheduled to go online in fiscal 2019, Kyuden Mirai Energy Co., a subsidiary of Kyushu Electric Power Co., said.

Tidal power generation involves the use of tidal streams to generate electricity. Hopes are high that it will be able to provide a stable supply of electric power, regardless of the weather and the time of the year.

On-site surveys and other preparatory work are planned to start later this fiscal year, and a turbine will be installed and go online for a period of seven to eight months in fiscal 2019.

Kyuden Mirai will form a consortium with companies, universities and others, to undertake the test run.

The consortium includes Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., Kyushu University, Nagasaki University and an Ireland-based tidal turbine manufacturer.

The Environment Ministry has been calling for a business operator to undertake a trial run of tidal power generation as part of its initiative to promote the use of renewable energy sources.

The consortium was selected July 25 as the operator in charge of the demonstration project.