Japan Interconnector and Frontier Power apply for Hokkaido 2 GW HVDC project

Japan Interconnector Inc. and its JV partner Frontier Power Ltd. submitted a pre-qualification expression of interest to OCCTO, Japan’s grid regulator, to participate in the bidding for the Hokkaido-Honshu (Japan Sea route) 2 GW HVDC 800km submarine power cable project. Asides from Japan Interconnector and Frontier Power, only one other consortium has participated in the pre-qualification. Pre-qualification results are expected to be announced in Q1 2025, after which final bids will be due on December 26, 2025. This is the first long distance subsea power cable in Japan and one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the country in recent years. In public documents, OCCTO have estimated the project cost at up to 1.8 trillion Japanese yen, which is equivalent to around US$ 12 billion.