RCG日本‐国内の洋上風力発電事業の拡大に向けて坂内真人を起用し、リーダーシップチームを強化

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。

Tokyo, Japan  – The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG), a sector specialist advisory firm, continues its expansion into Japan ahead of the country’s expected offshore wind growth.

Last year, the Japanese government announced plans to install as much as 45GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040 with an interim target of 10 GW by 2030. Japan also set new feed-in tariff rates for offshore wind that will result in large-scale offshore wind development at multiple sites during the next decade [↑]. To accommodate the coming demand, RCG has responded with plans for new recruitment while bolstering its market intelligence, due diligence and technical advisory service offerings.

Located in Tokyo’s financial center, RCG’s office in the Marunouchi district affords our Asia Pacific team a local base of operations. Over the coming months, RCG plans to significantly expand the Asia Pacific region team to as many as 15 staff, through a combination of local experts, and experienced European offshore wind expatriates, who have either already relocated to Japan, or will do so when travel restrictions are eased. RCG’s continued in-country growth means the firm is able to put an experienced team – including senior personnel – on any renewable energy engagement in Japan and the broader Asia Pacific region.

This week, Hideto Seto joined RCG as Associate Director. He has more than 15 years’ experience in the wind energy industry working across a broad range of operational, commercial and account management roles. Seto is an expert in wind turbine operation and maintenance (O&M) management, project management and account relationship building. He provides clients with solutions for wind farm planning, lifetime operation cost optimization and project management.

With experience spanning both project management and O&M execution for international clients, Seto has held multiple industry leadership roles. He has extensive experience in service management from planning to execution. This includes providing clients optimisation plans for existing wind farm assets to drive reliability improvements, the use of state-of-the-art digital technologies to yield performance improvements, and lifetime operation budget planning for new wind farm developments. He has also led the launch of new O&M organizations in multiple countries, including relationship building with local contractors.

Commenting on the news, Gareth Lewis, RCG’s Managing Director for the APAC Region said:

“With an aggressive near-term target, we continue to see Japan as a major offshore wind growth market. As a result, RCG has responded with the hiring of Hideto Seto, who brings with him a wealth of experience in service operations, account management and project management. With Seto on board – and the fact that we are already providing advisory services for Japanese offshore wind projects – will accelerate further business expansion in Japan’s renewables market.” – Gareth Lewis, Managing Director, APAC

The Tokyo office – along with RCG’s office in Taiwan – is leading the acceleration of the firm’s Asia Pacific platform to realise its goal of providing a top-tier market intelligence, management consulting, and technical advisory service to the renewable sector and delivering long-term value for clients.

Glasgow, Scotland – The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG), a sector specialist advisory firm, has announced the appointment of David Banks to boost the firm’s technical due diligence and lender’s technical advisory services offerings for onshore wind.

As the global development of onshore wind farms continues, so too has the demand for technical due diligence and lender’s technical advisory services. In response, the appointment of Banks brings a wealth of experience for the benefit of our clients.

RCG’s independent technical advisors identify risk in projects through market-leading due diligence, to help clients make sound investment decisions. This applies to for both onshore and offshore wind assignments, with no geographical restriction.

With a deep background in onshore technical due diligence, Banks has taken leadership roles in more than 40 international assignments, including vendor, acquisition and pre-financial close projects for both single site and large complex portfolios.

Before RCG, Banks oversaw the day-to-day management and delivery of several land-based construction monitoring projects. These assignments afforded Banks a specialist’s knowledge in wind farm operation, technology and construction.

Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Cole, RCG’s Managing Director – Europe, Middle East & Africa said:

“We are delighted that David has joined our team. From carrying out turbine inspections and attending sites during construction, David is keenly aware of the wide-ranging issues which arise during all stages of a project. His vast technical advisory experience with developers, sponsors, and lenders on the development, construction and operation of onshore wind farms will serve our clients well.” – Andrew Cole, Managing Director.

The Glasgow office is leading the acceleration of the firm’s due diligence platform and technical services in order to realise its overall goal of providing a top-tier market intelligence, management consulting, and technical advisory service to the renewable sector and delivering long-term value for clients.

New York and London – The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG), a sector specialist advisory firm, today announced the appointment of energy market specialist Craig Brown, who will work from RCG’s New York office as well as its London headquarters.

Offshore wind in the US is rapidly expanding and RCG has responded by adding experienced professionals who helped to build North America’s first generation of offshore wind. Prior to joining RCG, Brown was Business Development Manager for Keystone Engineering, the design engineer for the 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind farm installed in the US. With his offshore wind experience as well as his diverse energy market background, Brown will be a boon for new business development.

Before Keystone, he was Senior Research Analyst in PFC Energy’s Downstream Monitoring and Petrochemicals Group. Brown holds a BA in Economics from Drake University and a MA in International Affairs from the American University of Paris. His graduate studies focused on European oil and gas markets and energy diplomacy. He holds a visiting Researcher position at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies where he studied offshore wind, oil refining and commodity markets, natural gas conversion technologies, petrochemicals and gas-to-liquids.

Commenting on the appointment, Dan Pearson, RCG’s Chief Strategy Officer, said:

“Craig’s energy market knowledge coupled with his deep knowledge of the offshore wind sectors in Europe and US, further augments our world class team in this sector. Welcoming him into the RCG team to help us build our market knowledge further and grow our business development capabilities is very exciting for us.” – Dan Pearson, Chief Strategy Officer

Remarking on his appointment, Brown said:

“It’s an amazing opportunity to join the ranks of a dynamic and energetic company like RCG. I am thrilled to support the type of high-caliber consulting engagements that RCG is known for, and to play a role in delivering solutions to renewable energy markets across the globe. It’s an exciting time to join a company that is dedicated solely to helping countries and companies worldwide succeed in advancing renewable energy.”- Brown, New York and London

RCG is leading the development of offshore wind globally. Our expertise covers the full offshore wind value chain, from development, through construction, to asset management and decommissioning. We think of offshore wind as power at scale – technology with the potential to deliver a global energy transition.