The Possibility of Embracing Typhoons for Ultimate Wind Power

Wind power generation has higher power generation capability with stronger winds. When thinking about when the wind is the strongest.

The forecast for the number of typhoons this year was slightly lower than average. However, on August 12, Typhoon No. 5 directly hit the Tohoku region. In Iwate Prefecture, the total rainfall exceeded 400 mm, more than twice the average August rainfall. On August 16, Typhoon No. 7 approached the Kanto region, causing the Shinkansen between Nagoya and Tokyo to be suspended for the entire day, and many flights were canceled.

Typhoons cause enormous damage in various areas. Currently, research is being conducted to generate electricity using the energy from these typhoons.

“Generating power using typhoon winds is an idea that a child might come up with. However, no one tried it because we don’t understand typhoons well.”

Associate Professor Taiga Mitsuyuki, who serves as the lab head at the Typhoon Power Generation Development Lab at the Typhoon Science and Technology Research Center.

The Typhoon Science and Technology Research Center is an organization established in 2021 at the Yokohama National University Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, aiming to reduce typhoon disaster risks and threats, and to utilize typhoon energy. Here, research is conducted from multiple angles in labs such as the Typhoon Observation Research Lab and Typhoon Prediction Research Lab.

“There is wind power generation among renewable energy sources that utilize wind. The stronger the wind, the higher the power generation capability. When thinking about when the wind is the strongest, it is during a typhoon. That’s why we considered typhoon power generation. We are developing it towards carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Currently, in Japan, wind turbines are on land, and offshore wind power generation, which involves installing turbines on the sea where the wind is stronger, is being promoted.

“But wind turbines don’t move. I thought it would be best if they could move to where the wind is stronger, so I designed the model in the photo,” says the creator.

One type has sails that catch the wind to move forward. The other type has a propeller inside a cylindrical structure that catches the wind to move forward. Both types generate electricity by rotating a screw as they move.

For a structure with a total length of 200 to 250 meters, it is estimated that if it follows 20 typhoons over five days each year, it could generate 3.3 billion kWh of electricity per unit per year. This is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 77,000 households.

Typhoons are full of mysteries. Designing starts with understanding typhoons.

It seems quite simple. With this, it looks like it could be made quickly.

“Once the design is decided, I don’t think making it is technically difficult. However, if you don’t understand typhoons, you cannot determine the design.”

Each typhoon has its own personality. Some move slowly like Typhoon No. 7 this time, while others pass through in an instant. Some have a short lifespan, while others disappear quickly. Currently, the path and strength can be predicted with some accuracy, but there is still much that is unknown.

“To properly operate a ship, we need to understand not only the wind but also the state of the waves. However, there is almost no data on what is happening beneath the sea surface during a typhoon.”

Typhoon power generation ships operate outside the typhoon’s storm zone. Data is needed on how to navigate efficiently to catch the wind. However, even though the central pressure and strength of a typhoon are known, the conditions of specific parts of the typhoon are mostly unknown.

“We need to know how strong the wind will be and what the sea surface will be like. Without this information, we cannot determine what kind of ship to build. You cannot design without understanding typhoons.”

Associate Professor Mitsuyuki’s specialty is ship system design. For a ship expert, it is natural to escape from a typhoon. The idea of heading into a typhoon is unimaginable. Although he became involved with the Typhoon Power Generation Development Lab by chance, he would never have considered operating a ship in a typhoon to generate power if it weren’t for this opportunity.

At the Typhoon Science and Technology Research Center, various studies are being conducted on typhoons, including the relationship between the birthplace of a typhoon and its path, and where typhoons with longer lifespans are born.

“It is precisely here that we can create a typhoon power generation ship. I hope to build a prototype ship within the next 10 years so that it can be socially implemented by 2050.”

 

Because it’s a ship, it can also deliver electricity to areas affected by typhoons.

The typhoon power generation ship, capable of operating anywhere, has a vision for its use. Associate Professor Mitsuyuki envisions delivering electricity to areas affected by typhoons and experiencing power outages.

“The greatest feature of the typhoon power generation ship is its mobility. To make the most of this advantage, I believe it is best to use it in disaster-stricken areas,” says Mitsuyuki.

By connecting a cable from the ship’s battery storage, it can provide power. If there are no affected areas, it could store electricity at offshore wind power plants. ‘We are already in an era where we must use the environment to sustain our lives. It would be great if this could become one of the options,’ says Associate Professor Mitsuyuki.

Further expanding the dream,

“I am also considering that it might be possible to go all the way to the Philippines, where typhoons occur, and supply the electricity generated there to countries in need. I believe we should deliver electricity to places in trouble without considering national borders. That is how it should be,” says Mitsuyuki.

Taiga Mitsuyuki, Lab Head of the Typhoon Power Generation Development Lab at the Typhoon Science and Technology Research Center, Yokohama National University Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. At the Marine Systems Design Engineering Laboratory, he is involved in ship design and system development, as well as research on concrete floating offshore wind power systems and efforts toward realizing typhoon power generation ships.