Japanese government will boost commercial use of floating offshore wind turbine, one of the important factors in ocean renewable energy. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will decide the guideline for installation of power generators in March 2014 and intends to make it international standards. It is expected to help Japanese companies conduct ocean wind power generation overseas. Economy and Environment ministries have been developing two separate wind firm operations, and are planning to expand their capacity. Upgrading the system, preparing environmental assessment method and application of the Feed-in Tariff Scheme for Renewable Energy are to be targeted.

Japan surrounded by the sea all around, which has the world’s 6th largest exclusive economic zones (EEZ), is considered a great potential for wind power generation in the ocean where the wind speed is stable. Floating turbines are suitable for deep sea around Japan. Land, Economic, and Environment ministries are looking to practical use of floating offshore wind firms.

A 2-megawatt turbine started power generation on November 11 in Pacific Ocean near Fukushima Prefecture, funded by the Economic ministry and operated by the group including Marubeni Corp. and Shimizu Corp as demonstration. The ministry will build another turbine and expand the total capability to 7 megawatt in fiscal 2014. The environment ministry, together with Toda Corp. increased power generation to 2000 kilowatt of floating wind firm offshore of Nagasaki Pref. in October. (2013/11/12)