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.

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.

Tokyo, Japan – The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG) today announced that it is establishing a Japanese business and is opening a new office in Tokyo. The new office will support existing engagements in Japan and serve other clients in the region.

Last year, as part of its strategic energy plan, the Japanese government committed to making renewable energy the main power source, setting a renewables target of 22%-24% of the total energy mix by 2030. Offshore wind development is beginning to take off and the government is working on legislation to support the industry. Significant investment is anticipated in Japanese offshore wind, both fixed-bottom and floating projects, and other renewable energy sources.

To support this growth, RCG is delighted to announce the opening of its Tokyo office and the intention to grow a major presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The firm has already recruited a Japan country lead, who will be in post shortly. Further announcements on this and other hires will be made in due course.  Last year RCG established a Taiwan business, opening an office in Taipei and hiring a local team led by Michael Chang.

Commenting on the new office in Tokyo, Sebastian Chivers, RCG’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“The emerging offshore wind market in Asia is drawing significant interest from international and domestic developers and investors. The opening of our Tokyo office will allow RCG to extend our market-leading advisory services to our local clients and will strengthen current and future projects across Asia-Pacific. The decision to establish a major presence in Japan builds upon our bold plans for continued growth worldwide.” – Sebastian Chivers, Chief Executive Officer.

RCG is already supporting offshore wind projects in Japan. Commenting on recent contract awards, Gareth Lewis, RCG’s Managing Director for New Markets, said:

“Japan is an exciting market and we are delighted to be assisting clients with our technical advisory services. We are experienced in working on first-of-a-kind renewables projects and it is fantastic to be working to support the development of offshore wind in Japan. – Gareth Lewis, Managing Director, New Markets.

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

RCG will be attending The Asia Wind Energy Association’s 5th Asia Offshore Wind Day in Tokyo on 24 January 2019. Billed as Asia’s largest offshore wind gathering, the event brings together senior executives active in the offshore wind industry in Asia.

With the Japanese government expected to further stimulate the sector, the offshore wind sector will grow significantly in the coming years. In addition, other growing markets such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Australia and Vietnam will be discussed during the conference.

RCG is pleased to support the Asia Wind Energy Association’s 5th Asia Offshore Wind Day and is looking forward to meeting existing and future clients at the conference.