The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA) announced they have formed a joint Japan Offshore Wind Task Force to drive offshore wind growth in Japan. The Task force will mainly focus on addressing regulatory and industrial bottlenecks, so that the country can take full advantage of its offshore wind potential.
As of December 2019, Japan has 65.6MW of offshore wind capacity, including five floating turbines totaling 19MW, but its full potential is yet to be unlocked.
Meanwhile, 2020 is expected to be a turning point for offshore wind in Japan as new regulations come into place that will open new doors for this nascent market, said Jin Kato, President at JWPA.
Developing this industry will be an important boost to Japan’s economy, it is estimated that by 2030 offshore wind could create direct investments of ¥5-6 trillion, generate 80,000-90,000 new jobs and reduce Japan’s carbon emissions by 71 million tons. It is therefore the ideal moment to form the Japan Offshore Wind Task Force and accelerate the momentum that has been developing for the industry over the past few year,
…he noted.
The Japan Offshore Wind Task Force includes both local and global industry players and will engage regularly with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).
The Task Force will focus on sharing best practices, conducting studies and bringing together relevant stakeholders in order to build a thriving offshore wind market in Japan.
By working with government and other key stakeholders, the industry can pave the way for future developments such as industrial-scale floating wind, which could open-up limitless power generation opportunities for Japan,
…Ben Backwell, CEO at GWEC commented.
The Task Force will be chaired by Jin Kato, President at JWPA, and Alastair Dutton, Chair of GWEC’s Global Offshore Wind Task Force.
The first deliverable of the Task Force will be a cost reduction study to explore the long-term cost reduction potential of the industry in Japan.
Earlier in February, Marubeni Corporation announced plans to implement the construction operation and maintenance of the offshore wind farms at Akita Port and Noshiro Port in Akita Prefecture, marking establishment of the first large-scale offshore wind power project in Japan.
