Japan Wind Development’s affiliate Kaminokuni Wind Development began the environmental impact assessment process for an up to 142.8MW onshore wind project in Kaminokuni Town, Hokkaido.
According to the primary environmental impact consideration document released for public viewing on April 17, 2025, the company plans to install up to 34 turbines, 4.2MW each, across a 3,600ha area slightly extending into the neighboring Assabu Town.
Kaminokuni Wind Development plans to begin construction of the project, which is expected to take about three years, around April 2031. It aims to begin commercial operation in the spring of 2034 following a five-month trial operation period.
Major operational projects in the area include J-Wind’s 28MW Kaminokuni Wind Farm commissioned in March 2014, its 41.5MW follow-up project Kaminokuni No. 2 Wind Farm commissioned in May 2024, the 19.5MW Eurus Esa Wind Farm commissioned in January 2011, and J-Wind and SymEnergy’s 21MW Esa Wind Power Plant.
Multiple other projects are under development in Kaminokuni and its vicinity including J-Wind’s 51.6MW Kaminokuni No. 3 Wind Farm, Invenergy’s 49.8MW Kaminokuni-Yunotai, and Chubu EPCO, Hokkaido EPCO, and Kanadevia’s 183MW Miyakoshi-Yunotai project. Japan Wind Development and its affiliates are also working on Assabu and Kikonai projects, 48MW each, in the nearby towns.
Owing to its favorable wind conditions, the area off the coast of Hiyama, which includes Kaminokuni, is also set to be designated as an offshore wind promotion zone and thus become one of the areas available for bidding in METI and MLIT’s tenders. Five companies and consortia to date, including J-POWER, Cosmo Eco Power, and Hokkaido Offshore Wind Development, among others, indicated interest in bidding by launching the EIA process for such potential projects.
