In an effort to increase its use of renewable energy, Japan is looking at expanding its offshore wind farm locations beyond its territorial waters, and into the exclusive economic zone, Nikkei Asia reports.
Japan has so far been slow to adopt wind energy, a popular form of renewables, and the country currently has almost no wind farm capacity.
According to research firm ISEP, wind power only accounts for a measly 0.9% of total power generation in 2021, while coal makes up 26.5%. Hydroelectric power is Japan's most widely used renewable energy source; next is solar.
In February, Japan's ruling party established a legislative group to promote renewable energy sources such as offshore wind power.
Japan Expanding Wind Farms to EEZ
Offshore wind farms in Japan are currently confined to territorial waters, which are approximately 22 kilometers away from the coast.
However, the government is looking into expanding the locations of offshore wind farms to the EEZ, which is 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the coast. This would align Japan with Europe, which already has wind farms in EEZs.
Why are countries pushing for offshore wind farms? Offshore wind energy production has many upsides over terrestrial wind farms, including consistent wind, high wind speed, and a lack of conflict with human settlements. However, constructing these facilities at sea presents new obstacles, like disrupting maritime traffic.
In 2021, the EU installed approximately 14.6 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, which has been a renewable energy fixture for some time and is expected to more than double by 2030. China has approximately 17 gigawatts, while Japan has virtually none.
According to Nikkei Asia, Japanese manufacturers have withdrawn from developing and producing wind turbines and other products, a growing concern for the ruling party.
Japan to Gradually Grow Wind Energy Production
As it moves toward cutting emissions, the Japanese government has set goals of producing 10 GW by 2030 and between 30 GW and 45 GW by 2040. However, to achieve these objectives, the country will need to pass legislation and overcome technical and financial barriers.
Extending the locations of offshore wind farms into the EEZ is seen as a solution to the problem. According to the Environment Ministry and other government agencies, the number of sites suitable for producing wind energy with a sea level of fewer than 200 meters will be three times higher than if they were restricted to within 30 kilometers of the coast.
Nikkei tells us that a Cabinet Office panel issued a report in January stating that installation in the EEZ is "possible under international law."
However, lacking a legal framework for EEZs makes coordination with fishermen and shipping companies difficult, which could hamper power generation projects.
EU firms are dealing with the same problem with Baltic Sea maritime routes. As a result, Japan must enact legislation to facilitate the expansion of offshore wind farms into the EEZ.
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