Japan's Chubu buys chunk of Shell-backed North Sea wind farm that just sold power to Google
Utility agrees to take 30% of Ecowende project under development by Eneco and Shell
Japanese utility Chubu Electric Power strengthened its position in European offshore wind by taking a chunk of the Ecowende project in Dutch waters.
Chubu agreed to buy a 30% share in the 760MW project from Dutch utility Eneco, which is currently developing the project in conjunction with oil giant Shell.
Eneco – which is itself 20%-owned by Chubu, with fellow Japanese group Mitsubishi holding the rest – will keep 10%, with Shell retaining its current 60% share. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Ecowende – formally known as Hollandse Kust West VI – was secured by Shell and Eneco in a 2022 subsidy-free tender run by the Netherlands government that stressed the need for extensive environmental innovation. It is due to enter service in 2026 using Vestas 15MW turbines.
Sato said then that experience in European offshore wind would help it shape a successful strategy back home in Japan.
Sato said of the Ecowende stake, which marks its first direct investment in an offshore wind project: "This is a significant step for us to enhance our partnership with Eneco and Shell.
“Ecowende will build and operate the wind farm with minimal impact on the environment and protected species. I am convinced that the concept of Ecological Innovation will become mainstream globally in the near future, including Japan and Asia.”
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