Japan Selects Two Groups for Third Offshore Wind Power Round

Japan has selected two consortiums to develop offshore wind blocks in its third major public auction aimed at advancing wind power development. The first consortium, comprising JERA, Green Power Investment, and Tohoku Electric Power, will operate a 615 MW wind farm near Tsugaru city and Ajigasawa town in Aomori prefecture. The second group, including Marubeni, Kansai Electric Power, BP IOTA, Tokyo Gas, and Marutaka, will manage a 450 MW wind farm near Yuza town in Yamagata prefecture. Both projects aim to commence operations by June 2030, utilizing turbines from Siemens Gamesa. This initiative aligns with Japan’s goal to achieve 10 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and up to 45 GW by 2040, supporting its decarbonization efforts and the target of carbon neutrality by 2050. Despite challenges such as high development costs and supply chain issues, Japan continues to invest in offshore wind to diversify its energy mix and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read more.