Japan’s parliament has passed a bill paving the way for the development of floating offshore wind in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The bill directs Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) to designate areas in the EEZ for wind development, where deeper waters necessitate floaters.
It also gives ministers from METI and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLITT) to issue licenses for project development.
Under the new law the two ministries will establish a council of developers who have received provisional status and stakeholders.
The council will determine criteria under which licenses will be granted, according to an analysis of the bill by World Forum Offshore.
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Deputy CEO Rebecca Williams said: “I’m really personally pleased to see that Japan has just passed the Bill allowing floating offshore wind to be built in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
“This will enable the next stages of floating wind within the market and fires the starting gun on the wider regulatory framework.”
GWEC said that industry and government will need to collaborate going forward to develop a “clear and bankable framework for EEZ projects”, as well as efficient permitting and infrastructure access.
The country should also introduce mechanisms to de-risk projects and attract investment in floating technology, GWEC added.