Renewable Energy Institute today released "Realizing a Centralized System to Accelerate Offshore Wind Development" (original Japanese version published in December 2023).
The energy and climate crises have increased the urgency to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, and offshore wind is gaining momentum due to its potential for large-scale development, with countries around the world setting high targets.
In total, more than 4.5 GW of projects have been developed in Japan to date. To drive this further, measures need to be taken to attract domestic and foreign investment by shortening lead times, reducing risks, and creating a fair competitive environment. The key to achieving this is to shift to a "centralized system" where the government takes a more central role in various aspects of the project, such as coordinating, licensing, and collecting and providing marine area data. The government is aware of the various issues involved and is developing a "Japanese version of the Centralized System." However, concerns remain whether the policies set are sufficient to enable the rapid deployment of offshore wind power.
This recommendation paper outlines the measures for short, medium, and long term goals, with a focus on the "centralized system" to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind power in Japan. The recommendations have been compiled on the basis of exchanges of views with offshore wind developers from various standpoints.
The energy and climate crises have increased the urgency to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, and offshore wind is gaining momentum due to its potential for large-scale development, with countries around the world setting high targets.
In total, more than 4.5 GW of projects have been developed in Japan to date. To drive this further, measures need to be taken to attract domestic and foreign investment by shortening lead times, reducing risks, and creating a fair competitive environment. The key to achieving this is to shift to a "centralized system" where the government takes a more central role in various aspects of the project, such as coordinating, licensing, and collecting and providing marine area data. The government is aware of the various issues involved and is developing a "Japanese version of the Centralized System." However, concerns remain whether the policies set are sufficient to enable the rapid deployment of offshore wind power.
This recommendation paper outlines the measures for short, medium, and long term goals, with a focus on the "centralized system" to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind power in Japan. The recommendations have been compiled on the basis of exchanges of views with offshore wind developers from various standpoints.
Realizing a Centralized System to Accelerate Offshore Wind Development
<Table of Contents>
Introduction
Ⅰ. Offshore Wind Development Procedures in Japan Today: Toward the "Japanese Version of Centralized System”
1. Project development under the “Renewable Energy Sea Area Utilization Act”
2. Differences from the centralized system practiced overseas
Ⅱ. Toward an Internationally Comparable Centralized System
1. Local symbiosis for project development
2. Survey of fishery conditions
3. Site survey (wind, seabed, meteorological and oceanographic conditions)
4. Securing grid connections
5. Environmental considerations
6. Others
Column 1: Toward reducing lead time
Column 2: Centralized system and two-stage bidding
