Akihabara News (Tokyo) — In a bid to increase its use of renewable energy sources, Japan is focusing on enhancing offshore wind power through the establishment of a national centralized system, and the Renewable Energy Institute (REI) has offered some suggestions in a new report.
With a long coastline, Japan has significant offshore wind power potential. Many analysts believe that offshore wind could emerge as one of the most effective renewable energy resources.
According to REI, approximately 21GW of offshore wind power was installed globally last year.
In this context, REI has provided suggestions for how the Japanese government might improve its harnessing of offshore wind power.
Specifically, REI emphasizes the importance of creating a centralized system in Japan in order to control the costs and efficiency of offshore wind power development, though noting that it is important to construct the system carefully.
According to the report, a lack of control over data collection is one of the potential pitfalls of the system which the national government has proposed. If this flaw is left unaddressed, it could lead to inaccuracies and redundant studies by multiple developers of the same offshore zones.
There are also unclear guidelines as to who will be responsible for managing grid security and the installation of necessary power lines in designated areas, which itself could place unnecessary burdens on local communities and the environment.
Further ambiguity arises from the lack of concrete start dates and the parameters of the zones which the new system will cover.
REI therefore recommends that the national government take direct responsibility for leading and implementing preliminary site investigations, grid security, and the establishment of development timelines.
REI emphasizes the importance of the national government conducting adequate investigations as early as possible and making its findings available to all potential developers, rather than allowing them to work independently with local governments and conducting their own assessments.
Above and beyond the foregoing, REI recommends that there should be a strong focus on improving the lines of communication between developers, local fishery cooperatives, local governments, and the national government so that they can work together more effectively.
REI predicts that 2025 is the earliest feasible time that the system could be implemented.
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