In November 2021, Rera Tech Inc. celebrated its first anniversary. Although we are a newly established company, we have been steadily growing thanks to the support of many people. To achieve Rera Tech Inc.'s mission of "designing the future of energy and society with weather and ICT," not only technology but also human power is essential. Rera Tech Inc. is looking for people who share the same aspirations to work with us.
We asked our members to talk about the wind power industry and their work at Rera Tech Inc.. We will deliver this in two parts.
Rera Tech Inc. members who participated in this roundtable discussion
CEO: Mizuki Konagaya
After graduating from the University of Tsukuba Graduate School (Meteorology and Climatology), he worked for 11 years as an environmental consultant, mainly engaged in consulting work related to renewable energy. In 2016, he enrolled in a doctoral course at Kobe University Graduate School, and is currently conducting research on offshore wind condition surveys. He serves as the CEO of Rera Tech Inc., a Kobe University-based venture company.
Wind Analysis and Simulation Leader/Misaki Takeshi
He obtained a PhD in Engineering at Kobe University Graduate School (Maritime Sciences) where he conducted research into improving the accuracy of offshore wind simulations using meteorological models. He is in charge of wind analysis and simulation work and also serves as an academic researcher at Kobe University.
Wind observation leader/Toshinari Mito
He majored in geographical and environmental science at Tokyo Metropolitan University (formerly Tokyo Metropolitan University), and based on his knowledge of geography (humanities, vegetation, climate, topography, geology, hydrology, etc.), he acquired geographic information science (GIS, etc.) for analyzing them and weather simulation, etc. He is responsible for a wide range of wind observation and analysis work, including LIDAR for wind power generation development, and is also conducting multiple research projects related to LIDAR.
Office Staff/Hiromi Takamatsu
After graduating from the Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hirosaki University, she worked for a construction consulting company, the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and an environmental consulting company before joining Rera Tech Inc. She is in charge of technical support, public relations, and general affairs. She is a mother of two children and currently works part-time.
Pioneering the future at the forefront of a rapidly growing field
--What is the appeal of working in the wind power industry?
Konagaya When we think about climate change and energy issues, I believe that renewable energy, including wind power generation, is an essential technology for shaping the society of the future. I believe it is one of the industries that can contribute to the future not only of Japan but of the entire planet. Relatec's vision is to "create a planet (city) that is desirable to live in for the next 100 years," and I believe that it is a very rewarding industry for those who share this vision.
Takamatsu That's exactly why I wanted to work at Relatec. I've always wanted to protect the global environment, and I've been involved in that kind of work up until now. Through my work at Relatec, I feel rewarded by being involved in renewable energy that protects the global environment.
Misaki The wind power industry is a promising field. Demand is sure to grow, and technology is constantly evolving. It's an exciting industry precisely because it's growing so rapidly. Offshore wind power in particular is a challenging field with much still unknown.
In the analysis and simulation work that I am in charge of, I mainly work to bridge the gap between research and industry, such as trying to implement academic research, conducting my own research and development, and publishing papers. Therefore, it is the perfect environment for people who want to do both research and social implementation. It is a field where it is entirely possible that the methods we develop will become the standard in the future.
Konagaya Looking back at the history of various industries that are now the standard, there was a time when research and technology came together and developed rapidly. The wind power industry is currently in that period of development. We must not follow in someone's footsteps, but be at the forefront and pave the way. Because it is a growing market, the wind power industry offers exciting and valuable experiences, and I personally feel like I am steering a boat through a fast-flowing river.
--How is the "wind condition survey" carried out by Rera Tech Inc. actually carried out?
Konagaya A "wind condition survey" is a survey to understand wind conditions. To make wind power generation a successful business, it is important to know the wind conditions at the location where the wind turbine is to be built. As shown in Figure 1, wind is greatly affected by the topography and climate. A wind condition survey makes it possible to estimate the amount of power generation in advance and to consider the design of the wind turbine.
The wind survey begins with installing equipment to observe the wind at the site where the wind turbine will be built. After that, we monitor the data sent from the equipment and perform simulations and analysis based on that data.
Observation work dealing with nature
--Please tell us about the challenges and rewards of observation work.
Mito Observation work mainly involves dealing with nature. First, you install equipment to observe wind conditions in the area where you want to build the wind turbine. Furthermore, installing the observation equipment is not the end of the job; it requires regular maintenance.
Because winds change with the seasons, observations are continued for at least a year. It is extremely difficult to continue measuring winds stably over such a long period of time, and there are cases where data cannot be collected properly due to weather conditions, and observation equipment can be destroyed by lightning strikes or typhoons.
The observation data is monitored 365 days a year to check for any abnormalities. In some locations, security cameras are installed and the footage is reviewed. In the event of a problem, I either ask a local partner company to deal with the problem, or I rush to the site myself. If the observation is at sea, I go on a boat, but when the target is onshore wind power generation, the observation sites are mostly in the mountains.
We drive along mountain roads without guardrails and encounter many wild animals such as deer and monkeys. During winter maintenance work, we sometimes wear snowshoes and work in the snow.
Although it is often difficult to deal with nature, it is interesting to think about what kind of measures should be taken according to the characteristics of the region. The locations of power plants and the contents of consultations vary, and we need to respond according to the situation, so it is a fresh experience every time we tackle a project.
I really feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish a year of observations and the power plant I was involved in is finally completed. In particular, in the case of offshore projects, the scale of the project is quite large, so being able to be involved in such a project from the early stages is one of the attractions of this job.