Japan's commitment to renewable energy took another step forward with the selection of operators for the offshore wind farm project off the coast of Yamagata Prefecture.
On December 24, 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced the chosen operators for the anticipated offshore wind power project. The consortium, known as Yamagata Yusa Offshore Wind Power LLC, comprises major players including Tokyo Gas, Marubeni Corporation, Kansai Electric Power Company, BP IOTA Holdings Limited, and Marutaka Corporation.
The project involves the construction of an offshore wind farm featuring 30 large turbines, capable of generating up to 450,000 kilowatts of power. This initiative aims to kick off operations by June 2030 and is part of Japan's broader strategy to transition to renewable energy sources as part of its goal for carbon neutrality by 2050.
According to Marubeni Corporation, the project will significantly contribute to the development of local communities, the activation of the domestic offshore wind industry, as well as help achieve a zero-carbon society. "We will contribute to the development of local communities, the revitalization of the domestic offshore wind industry, and the realization of a zero-carbon society," expressed the corporation's representatives.
The selection of the Yamagata project followed rigorous evaluations of several proposals submitted between January and July 2023. The government formed a third-party committee composed of experts who assessed various factors such as the proposed feed-in tariffs and the technical viability of the projects. Yamagata Yusa Offshore Wind Power LLC received high scores for its risk identification and analysis, as well as its exceptional ability to coordinate with administrative bodies and respect local fishing interests.
Yamagata's Governor’s office emphasized the importance of community cooperation, rating Yamagata Yusa's proposal highly worth noting for its focus on local issues. Yuichi Maki, head of the Energy Policy Promotion Office, stated, "This project will last 30 years, so responding to social and environmental changes and tackling local issues is key to its success."
Marutaka Corporation, with its strong ties to the region, also expressed its commitment to ensuring local communities benefit from the project. Chairman Takashi Takahashi remarked, "We aim to move forward with the project to benefit the local community as much as possible," during discussions with local media.
The selection is part of Japan's ambitious efforts to ramp up its renewable energy strategy, which seeks to significantly increase the capacity for renewable energy power generation by 2030, aiming for 6 million kW of renewable power sourced by the Tokyo Gas group. This project aligns with Tokyo Gas Group's vision of transitioning to net-zero CO2 emissions and supports their overarching renewable energy development goals.
Beyond the Yamagata project, discussions are also underway for potential offshore wind sites including the Sakata offshore area, which is also at the second stage of feasibility assessments for project development.
With government support and industry backing, the Yamagata offshore wind farm project stands as a pivotal initiative. It symbolizes hope for sustainable energy generation and the local economic uplift. The coordinated efforts aim not only to bolster the region's economy through job creation but also to place Japan firmly on the path to achieving its energy transition goals.
