Japan: Carbon Trust supports development of new renewables testing facility

As part of the consortium project, commissioned by the Nagasaki Prefecture Government, the Carbon Trust has been working closely with both the Wind Energy Institute of Tokyo (WEIT) and the Nagasaki Marine Industry Cluster Promotion Association.

The Carbon Trust has led engagement with international stakeholders to assess the level of demand and scope the key design requirements to ensure the facility is attractive to an international renewable energy market. The project has also involved a review of what would be required to enable the Nagasaki Prefecture to develop a local supply chain to complement the proposed test centre.

David Sanders, Director of Innovation at the Carbon Trust, commented: “We are very excited to have been selected to support this important project. Over the last 15 years the Carbon Trust has developed significant experience in helping to develop marine energy and offshore wind industries. We believe this project has significant potential for the Japanese renewables sector and is a step in the right direction in demonstrating how global collaboration can translate to delivering tangible innovation.”

Mr. Takaaki Morita, Director Marine Industry Development Office, Nagasaki Prefecture Government commented: “The creation of the Nagasaki Asia Marine Energy Centre is an important step to accelerate development of ocean renewable energy in Japan as well as to create new marine industrial cluster in Nagasaki. Having the support from the Carbon Trust, which has accumulated valuable expertise in both tidal energy and offshore wind, we trust that the Nagasaki Asia Marine Energy Centre will be successfully realised.”

Japan has committed to producing between 22-24 per cent of its total power generation from renewables by 2030. The Government’s energy policy defines marine renewables as one of the higher priority technologies. The creation of a renewable energy site is specifically highlighted as an important measure to secure the future of the marine energy sector in Japan and to deliver a range of benefits including: reduced development costs; improved safety; increased private investment; enhanced international competitiveness; and a revitalised local economy.

In accordance with Japanese government policy Nagasaki Prefecture has been progressing a number of initiatives in addition to the development of the business case for the Nagasaki Asia Marine Energy Centre. The ambition is to establish a full service testing facility for both domestic and international markets, whilst encouraging wider collaboration with the local industrial cluster.

Development of the test centre is ongoing with the aim of opening a fully operational testing site from 2018. The Nagasaki Asia Marine Energy Centre will act as a hub for the Asian market, under the close collaboration with Japanese Government, to enable developers to conduct deployment tests in realistic met-ocean conditions.