The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has announced the selection of developers for offshore wind power projects in two designated promotion areas: “Offshore Aomori Prefecture (Southern Japan Sea)” and “Offshore Yusa Town, Yamagata Prefecture.”
Selected Developers and Project Details:
1. Offshore Aomori Prefecture (Southern Japan Sea):
- Developer: Tsugaru Offshore Energy Consortium
- Consortium Members:
– JERA Co., Inc.
– Green Power Investment Corporation
– Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. - Project Overview:
– Type: Fixed-bottom offshore wind farm
– Capacity: 615 MW (41 turbines, each 15 MW, manufactured by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy) - Scheduled Operation Start: June 2030
2. Offshore Yusa Town, Yamagata Prefecture:
- Developer: Yamagata Yusa Offshore Wind Power LLC
- Consortium Members:
– Marubeni Corporation
– The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
– BP Iota Holdings Limited
– Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
– Marutaka Co., Ltd. - Project Overview:
– Type: Fixed-bottom offshore wind farm
– Capacity: 450 MW (30 turbines, each 15 MW, manufactured by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy) - Scheduled Operation Start: June 2030
Selection Process:
The selection was conducted under the Act on Promoting the Utilization of Sea Areas for the Development of Marine Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities. Applications were accepted from January 19 to July 19, 2024. Each area had a third-party committee comprising experts in wind power, marine structures, finance, regional issues, and legal affairs, who evaluated the proposals based on supply price and project feasibility.
Conclusion:
These developments mark a significant step toward Japan’s renewable energy goals, aiming for 10 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 30–45 GW by 2040. The collaboration between domestic and international companies in these projects underscores the growing attractiveness of Japan’s offshore wind sector for global investors.
For more detailed information, please refer to the official MLIT announcement. https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/port06_hh_000304.html
