Japan has unveiled 11 areas off its coast that could be suitable for the development of offshore wind farms.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Resource and Energy Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Port Authority of Japan said the 11 sites had progressed to a certain preparatory stage for offshore wind development.
Three areas are off Aomori prefecture in the north and south part of the Sea of Japan and in Mutsu Bay.
Four areas are off Akita prefecture, including off the coasts of Happomachi, Noshiro City, Yurihonjo City and Sanse Town and Oga City.
Two further areas are off Nagasaki Prefecture at Ejima and Goto City, one off Niigata at Murakami City and the final one off Kashiwa City in Chiba prefecture.
Japan said wind and geological surveys will start immediately at four of the sites – Sanse and Oga, Yurihonjo, Kashiwa, and Goto.