Japan chooses two promising offshore wind farm areas

The Japanese government announced on Friday that it has designated two sites offshore of the prefectures of Akita (Akita) and Fukuoka (Fukuoka) as "promising areas" for developing off-shore wind farms.

The Japanese government wants to speed up the development of renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. However, the recent withdrawal by a consortium led to by Mitsubishi Corp from the first major offshore wind auction has shaken confidence.

Akita City in the north of Japan and Hibikinada, in Fukuoka to the south are now designated zones.

Based on the recommendations of an independent committee of experts, they were upgraded from "preparatory areas". To qualify for an auction, a "promising" zone must be upgraded under local law into a "promotion" zone.

The Ministry of Land and Industry also chose three new areas for the preparation zones. These are off Asahi City in Chiba, off the southern island Goto in Nagasaki and Ichikikushikino in Kagoshima.

Three sites, off Akita and Asahi and Hibikinada, were also chosen for surveys as part of the "centralised method" where local and government authorities work together to conduct surveys and to accelerate development.

Offshore wind has been a key part of Japan's push for renewable energy, but the government had to re-evaluate the program and give operators extra support after the Mitsubishi consortium pulled out due to rising costs. (Reporting and editing by Kate Mayberry; Yuka Obayashi)

(source: Reuters)