Albatross Technology

Albatross Technology is a Japanese research and development startup focused on making ocean renewable energy commercially viable. The company was established as a limited liability company in 2012, following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and later incorporated in July 2022. It was founded by Hiromichi Akimoto, a specialist in marine engineering who previously taught at universities including the University of Tokyo and Osaka University. The founding mission is to build a society not reliant on fossil fuels or nuclear power, and for a sea-bound country like Japan, commercializing ocean renewable energy is a rational path toward energy security.

The company's core innovation is the Floating Axis Wind Turbine (FAWT), a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) supported by a rotating cylindrical floating foundation. Unlike conventional top-heavy horizontal axis turbines that require large, expensive floaters to stay upright, especially in typhoon-prone regions, the FAWT has a lower center of gravity. This design allows for a smaller, more cost-effective floater. A key feature is its ability to tilt up to 20 degrees in strong winds without losing performance, a principle akin to a self-righting doll, making the structure resilient and 'un-capsizable'. This design significantly reduces equipment (CAPEX) and maintenance (OPEX) costs. Furthermore, the simple structure allows for a domestic supply chain for nearly all components, including carbon fiber reinforced plastic blades, which boosts the national economy.

Albatross Technology's business model centers on the design, development, and manufacturing of its renewable energy devices, partnering with other companies for production. The company collaborates with numerous corporations and universities on research and development. It has entered into joint research agreements with major players like J-POWER, TEPCO, Chubu Electric Power, and "K" Line to develop and test its technology. The immediate goal is to deploy and validate a small-scale 20kW experimental unit, with plans to scale up to megawatt-class offshore demonstration projects. The company has successfully raised a cumulative total of 520 million JPY through Series A funding from investors including the Development Bank of Japan, Genesia Ventures, and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, to finance talent acquisition and the development of its experimental machines.

Keywords: ocean renewable energy, floating offshore wind, vertical axis wind turbine, FAWT, cost reduction, Japanese energy security, marine engineering, sustainable energy, Hiromichi Akimoto, clean technology, wind power generation, tidal energy, wave energy, carbon fiber reinforced plastics, domestic production