RCG appoints Okahara to guide Japan’s offshore wind growth

Tokyo, Japan – The Renewables Consulting Group, an ERM Group company, has appointed offshore wind energy specialist Yoshinori Okahara as a Director in the firm’s Tokyo office.

The appointment will help support the firm’s in-country efforts as the Japanese offshore wind market is currently a hotbed of activity with offshore wind auctions being launched and projects and alliances moving forward. For example, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recently announced four offshore wind promising areas – and up to 10 potential areas that require further study – as part of the country’s carbon neutrality plan. Japan aims to build 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and 30 GW to 45 GW by 2040.

Okahara will play a central role in supporting RCG’s growth in Japan and internationally as well as developing new revenue opportunities for RCG within Japan and the wider Asia Pacific region. He is also expected to provide leadership with the emerging requirement for owner’s engineering and other renewable project life cycle services.

He has more than 30 years’ experience in civil engineering construction sector with project management, construction management, design, schedule control, risk management, and trouble-shooting roles for both international and Japan domestic projects. Before RCG, Okahara served as acting general manager at Taisei Corporation, where he oversaw the company’s offshore wind program among other duties.

Commenting on the appointment, Gareth Lewis, managing director for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, said:

“He is joining RCG at an opportune moment as Japan’s offshore developers will be preparing for auctions, securing consents and designing and procuring equipment. With Okahara-san’s extensive offshore experience in other sectors, he brings a wealth of relevant knowledge to the offshore wind sector.” Gareth Lewis – Managing Director, APAC

RCG’s continued growth means the firm can deploy experienced local teams on any renewable energy engagement, backed up by a team of international experts, to deliver high-value market intelligence, management consulting and technical advisory services on any renewable energy assignment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tokyo, Japan – The Renewables Consulting Group, an ERM Group company, has appointed offshore wind energy specialist Yoshinori Okahara as a Director in the firm’s Tokyo office.

The appointment will help support the firm’s in-country efforts as the Japanese offshore wind market is currently a hotbed of activity with offshore wind auctions being launched and projects and alliances moving forward. For example, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recently announced four offshore wind promising areas – and up to 10 potential areas that require further study – as part of the country’s carbon neutrality plan. Japan aims to build 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and 30 GW to 45 GW by 2040.

Okahara will play a central role in supporting RCG’s growth in Japan and internationally as well as developing new revenue opportunities for RCG within Japan and the wider Asia Pacific region. He is also expected to provide leadership with the emerging requirement for owner’s engineering and other renewable project life cycle services.

He has more than 30 years’ experience in civil engineering construction sector with project management, construction management, design, schedule control, risk management, and trouble-shooting roles for both international and Japan domestic projects. Before RCG, Okahara served as acting general manager at Taisei Corporation, where he oversaw the company’s offshore wind program among other duties.

Commenting on the appointment, Gareth Lewis, managing director for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, said:

“He is joining RCG at an opportune moment as Japan’s offshore developers will be preparing for auctions, securing consents and designing and procuring equipment. With Okahara-san’s extensive offshore experience in other sectors, he brings a wealth of relevant knowledge to the offshore wind sector.” Gareth Lewis – Managing Director, APAC

RCG’s continued growth means the firm can deploy experienced local teams on any renewable energy engagement, backed up by a team of international experts, to deliver high-value market intelligence, management consulting and technical advisory services on any renewable energy assignment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan’s METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) has named four offshore wind “promising areas” – in addition to the existing three offshore wind promising areas – as the country begins to lay out detailed plans to meet its carbon neutrality targets of 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and 30 GW – 45 GW by 2040. Additionally, it named 10 potential areas that have progressed to certain “preparatory stages” which require further study.

The status of designation of promotion areas to date is as follows

Promotion areas for Round 1

• Goto-city, Nagasaki prefecture
• Noshiro-city, Mitane-town and Oga-city, Akita prefecture
• Yurihonjo-city, Akita prefecture
• Choshi, Chiba prefecture

Promotion areas for Round 2

• Happou-town and Noshiro-city, Akita prefecture

Following a two-month period of consultation and data gathering with the prefectures, METI named the following promising areas and potential areas:

7 Promising areas

The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG) considers the following three areas as candidates for Round 2 promotion areas, in addition to Happou-town and Noshito-city. Aomori in Japan Sea (South) and Saikai-city are currently under discussion at the council (Kyogikai), but the council has not yet been formed for Japan Sea (North).

• Offshore Aomori in Japan Sea (North), Aomori prefecture
• Offshore Aomori in Japan Sea (South). Aomori prefecture
• Saikai-city, Nagasaki prefecture

The following areas were newly added. RCG considers the following four areas as candidates for Round 3.

• Oga-city, Katagami-city and Akita-city, Akita prefecture
• Yuza-town, Yamagata prefecture
• Murakami-city and Tainai-city, Niigata prefecture
• Isumi-city, Chiba prefecture

10 potential Areas that have progressed to the “certain preparatory stages”

• Ishikari-city, Hokkaido
• Ganwu and Minami Shiribeshi, Hokkaido
• Shimamaki, Hokkaido
• Hiyama, Hokkaido
• Matsumae, Hokkaido
• Mutsu Bay, Aomori prefecture
• Kuji-city, Iwate prefecture
• Awara-city, Fukui prefecture
• Hibikinada, Fukuoka prefecture
• Karatsu-city, Saga prefecture
  (NOTE: Ishikari-city, Shimamaki, Matsumae, Kuji-city, Awara-city, Hibikinada and Karatsu-city were newly added.)

Japan’s METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) has named four offshore wind “promising areas” – in addition to the existing three offshore wind promising areas – as the country begins to lay out detailed plans to meet its carbon neutrality targets of 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and 30 GW – 45 GW by 2040. Additionally, it named 10 potential areas that have progressed to certain “preparatory stages” which require further study.

The status of designation of promotion areas to date is as follows

Promotion areas for Round 1

• Goto-city, Nagasaki prefecture
• Noshiro-city, Mitane-town and Oga-city, Akita prefecture
• Yurihonjo-city, Akita prefecture
• Choshi, Chiba prefecture

Promotion areas for Round 2

• Happou-town and Noshiro-city, Akita prefecture

Following a two-month period of consultation and data gathering with the prefectures, METI named the following promising areas and potential areas:

7 Promising areas

The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG) considers the following three areas as candidates for Round 2 promotion areas, in addition to Happou-town and Noshito-city. Aomori in Japan Sea (South) and Saikai-city are currently under discussion at the council (Kyogikai), but the council has not yet been formed for Japan Sea (North).

• Offshore Aomori in Japan Sea (North), Aomori prefecture
• Offshore Aomori in Japan Sea (South). Aomori prefecture
• Saikai-city, Nagasaki prefecture

The following areas were newly added. RCG considers the following four areas as candidates for Round 3.

• Oga-city, Katagami-city and Akita-city, Akita prefecture
• Yuza-town, Yamagata prefecture
• Murakami-city and Tainai-city, Niigata prefecture
• Isumi-city, Chiba prefecture

10 potential Areas that have progressed to the “certain preparatory stages”

• Ishikari-city, Hokkaido
• Ganwu and Minami Shiribeshi, Hokkaido
• Shimamaki, Hokkaido
• Hiyama, Hokkaido
• Matsumae, Hokkaido
• Mutsu Bay, Aomori prefecture
• Kuji-city, Iwate prefecture
• Awara-city, Fukui prefecture
• Hibikinada, Fukuoka prefecture
• Karatsu-city, Saga prefecture
  (NOTE: Ishikari-city, Shimamaki, Matsumae, Kuji-city, Awara-city, Hibikinada and Karatsu-city were newly added.)

日本、東京都 – 2021年6月2日 ‐再生可能エネルギー分野に特化したアドバイザリーファームであるThe Renewables Consulting Group（RCG）は、再生可能エネルギー分野のベテランである坂内真人を当社の東京オフィスのディレクターに任命しました。

坂内氏は、洋上風力、陸上風力、及び太陽光発電など、幅広い技術分野で25年以上にわたる実績を有しています。

坂内氏の就任は、日本の洋上風力発電市場の急成長が期待される時期と重なります。日本の経済産業省は、2030年までに1,000万kW、2040年までに4,500万kWという日本の中間目標を支援するために、正式な公募を発表する予定です。

昨年、日本では洋上風力発電の新たな固定価格買取制度が導入されたことにより、今後10年間に複数のサイトで大規模な洋上風力発電の開発が実施されることが期待されています。

このニュースについて、RCGのアジア太平洋（APAC）地域担当マネージング・ディレクターのガレス・ルイスは次のように述べています。

「日本の洋上風力発電市場は、開発に適した場所として認識されている県が増えてきており、今後も開発が期待されています。地域の電力会社や商社、新たなIPPや海外のデベロッパーは、数ギガワット級の洋上風力発電所を開発するための海底コンセッションとその後の権利を確保するために、今後のオークションに向けて準備を進めています。そのため、専門家によるサービス必要性が高まっています。坂内氏は、オペレーション、EPC、アカウントマネジメント、プロジェクトマネジメントの分野で豊富な経験を持ち、英国洋上風力発電市場や韓国及びコロンビアの電力市場での経験もあります。坂内氏がRCGに加わったことで、日本の洋上風力発電プロジェクトの多くにアドバイザリーサービスを提供している弊社が、日本の自然エネルギー市場に与える影響がさらに加速することを期待しています」

RCGに入社する前は、Sonnedix JapanでいくつかのソーラープロジェクトのEPCとオペレーション&メンテナンス統括し、クレーム対応なども担当されていました。Sonnedix以前は、丸紅グループの丸紅パワー&インフラシステムズ（旧：丸紅パワーシステムズ株式会社）でジェネラルマネージャーを務め、ヨーロッパやアジアで行われた複数の洋上・陸上風力発電プロジェクトの設計・調達・建設契約の履行を管理していました。

RCGの継続的な成長に伴い、今後はより一層、経験豊富なRCG日本チーム及び海外拠点におけるエキスパートの連携を活し、アジア太平洋地域のあらゆる再生可能エネルギーの案件に対して、価値の高いマーケットインテリジェンス、経営コンサルティング、技術アドバイザリーサービスを提供することが可能になりました。

Japan is mulling a series of sweeping new offshore wind initiatives that promise to speed up project timelines, facilitate local coordination and guarantee grid access.

On 17 February, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) held a joint conference discussing potential measures to accelerate the formation of projects and improve the business environment for offshore wind farms under the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Act.

“By accelerating the development of projects, the government aims to achieve the targets set out in the first phase of its vision for the offshore wind industry in December of last year,” explains Akio Hasegawa, a Director in RCG’s Tokyo office. “Several measures were outlined that will help facilitate local coordination and secure grid capacity.”

Last December, Japan unveiled the first phase of its vision for offshore wind, declaring a target of 10 GW by 2030 and 30 – 45 GW by 2040.
Based on the requests of the private sector, the government is considering the option of extending and renewing the period of occupation, for up to a maximum of 30 years, while keeping an eye on trends in technological development.

Hasegawa says there have been voices of concern originating from the private sector regarding the occupation permit, saying that a project can only be operated for approximately 20 years in reality, taking into account the period of development and demolition, and that if the period can be extended by 10-15 years, it will lead to reductions in costs.

The wind measurement will take about six months to prepare and about a year to carry out. Presently, after the promising areas for offshore wind power are selected, the preliminary preparations for the survey, which include wind measurement and site inspection, can begin.

In the future, however, preliminary preparations will likely start before the selection of the promising area, taking into account local conditions, so that the wind measurement can be carried out immediately after the selection of the promising area.

The country is also seeking to adopt a Japanese-style offshore wind allocation model to minimize the duplication of early development costs. In Japan, business associations have requested this reform in an effort to reduce the risk of business operators.

“The proposals here represent a policy shift for Japan,” Hasegawa explains, “which should ease the current challenges in the market.”