The renewable energy market is changing rapidly every day. Rera Tech News picks out news related to renewable energy and the wind power market that Relatec members found interesting and delivers it to you. This time, we will be looking at news that we paid particular attention to from December to January.
①Expectations for "fish reef effect" at Karatsu offshore wind power impact report meeting
https://www.sagatv.co.jp/news/archives/2024121318544
On December 2024, 12, the results of an ocean survey were reported to local fishermen regarding the offshore wind power plant that the prefecture is promoting off the coast of Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. Currently, off the coast of Karatsu, a phenomenon known as "isoyake" (seaweed denudation) has been confirmed, in which seaweed is greatly reduced due to rising seawater temperatures. On the other hand, in Akita Prefecture and other areas where offshore wind power generation has already been introduced, the foundations of the facilities have become "fish reefs," attracting many fish. Mutual understanding with local residents is very important for the social implementation of offshore wind power generation. The fact that the positive effects of this project have been attracting attention for those involved in the fishing industry is a hopeful event for promoting offshore wind power generation in Japan in the future.
②World's largest floating offshore wind power platform begins operation in Guangdong, China
https://xtech.nikkei.com/atcl/nxt/column/18/02406/121600031
The floating offshore wind power platform "Mingyang Tiancheng" was officially put into operation on December 12th in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, southern China. The development of Mingyang Tiancheng was carried out independently by Mingyang Wind Power Group, and it is the world's first floating offshore wind power platform equipped with two 11 megawatt marine fans (wind turbines) on a single floating base, with a total installed capacity of 1 megawatts, making it the largest floating offshore wind power platform in the world at present. The dual turbines used here are said to increase power generation by about 8.3% by rotating the two turbines in opposite directions. In addition, since the installation area is expected to be hit by violent typhoons, it is thought that demonstration tests will be conducted on the durability of these facilities, making this a very ambitious project.
3. Three companies, including Shikoku Electric Power, withdraw from the Imanonoyama wind power project. The operating company intends to continue.
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASSDD462LSDDPLXB00CM.html
Shikoku Electric Power has decided to withdraw from its onshore wind power generation project at Imanoyama in western Kochi Prefecture. The plan was to have a generating capacity of 19 kilowatts, one of the largest in Japan, with construction scheduled to begin in 3. However, wind analysis showed that the amount of power generated would be 2024% lower than expected, and with rising prices for materials and equipment and a lengthy construction period, it was determined that it would be difficult to continue the business. In addition to Shikoku Electric Power, Sumitomo Corporation and Hokutaku, who had invested in the project, have also decided to withdraw. Currently, only the remaining investor, Japan Wind Engineering, has indicated its intention to continue the business.
The wind analysis revealed that turbulence, which causes wind to blow in swirling motion, had a large effect, making the wind unstable and resulting in less power generation than expected, highlighting the importance of conducting wind surveys in advance.
④ClassNK to hold offshore wind power course with Nagasaki Maritime Academy in February next year
https://www.kaijipress.com/news/information/2024/12/189283
Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), a general incorporated foundation, will co-host the ClassNK Academy course "Basic Course on Offshore Wind Power Generation - The Potential of the Offshore Wind Power Industry and its Impact on the Maritime Industry" with Nagasaki Ocean Academy (NOA), a human resource development institution for offshore wind power generation, in Tokyo on February 2025th and 2th, 17. In offshore wind power generation, training engineers, including those who can perform maintenance, is the key to the future development of the industry. Kobe University and ReraTech are participating as lecturers in NOA's "Wind and Ocean Condition Observation and Analysis and Power Generation Forecasting Course," and it is hoped that such courses will help develop human resources in the wind power field.
⑤Announcement of the draft of the 7th Basic Energy Plan
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC17B800X10C25A1000000
The government published a draft of the Seventh Basic Energy Plan on December 2024, 12. For the first time, the phrase "reduce dependence on nuclear power as much as possible," which has been included since the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 17, has been removed, and the plan also mentions the rebuilding of nuclear power plants. The proportion of wind power generation among all renewable energy sources was 7% in fiscal 2011, but is forecast to be 2023-1.1% in fiscal 2040. This policy is expected to have a major impact on the wind power industry in the future.
⑥ Approval for the Floating Offshore Wind Construction System Technology Research Association (FLOWCON) to establish an efficient construction system for promoting the introduction of floating offshore wind power generation.
https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/port01_hh_000286.html
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has approved the establishment of the Floating Offshore Wind Construction System Technology Research Consortium (FLOWCON), which aims to establish a construction system that will enable the rapid construction of large quantities of floating offshore wind turbines and to achieve reasonable construction costs. This is a joint research and technology development project focusing on the fundamental themes of floating offshore wind turbines.FLOWRAUnlike the WG3, this is a union that specializes in construction. In particular, the development of a weather and ocean condition forecasting system for offshore construction [WGXNUMX] is an item related to the wind conditions field.
⑦ Itochu Corporation invests in Bowman Wind Farm in the US to supply renewable energy for 10 homes
https://www.itochu.co.jp/ja/news/press/2025/250127.html
ITOCHU Corporation has partnered with Apex Clean Energy, a US renewable energy developer, to invest in the Bowman Wind Farm (208MW) under construction in North Dakota. The project has concluded a corporate PPA with eight parties, including universities and public institutions, and is scheduled to begin commercial operation at the end of 8, supplying electricity to approximately 2025 households. The climate in this region seems suitable for wind power generation, so we will be keeping an eye on future developments.
2600. Denmark's Orsted posts XNUMX billion yen impairment loss in the United States
https://www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/articles/2025-01-21/SQF3TDT1UM0W00
Denmark's Orsted, one of the world's largest offshore wind power developers, announced that it recorded impairment charges of approximately 2024 billion yen for the October-December 10 period. The main factors include rising construction costs for power generation facilities in the United States, rising interest rates, and increased costs for the Sunrise Wind Power Project off the coast of New York. In addition, it has been pointed out that new development may become difficult due to U.S. President Trump's announcement that he will no longer lease federally managed land for large-scale wind power generation.
Next time, we will continue to bring you carefully selected news that has caught Rera Tech's attention.
As wind condition consultants, Rera Tech Inc. will carry out optimal wind condition surveys that combine "observation" and "estimation" for wind power generation.