Survey ReportsOrganizations that Support for Building Business Networks
Seeking to Become a Frontrunner in ハイパーブラックジャック Field of Renewable Energy, Fukushima Partners with Europe (Part 1)

December 23, 2022

In order to promote ハイパーブラックジャック renewable energy industry, Fukushima Prefecture is ramping up economic exchange with Europe, known as a global leader in this field.

This is a two-part serial article reporting on major activities developed for this purpose. Part 1 provides an outline of initiatives ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima Prefectural Government is implementing to promote ハイパーブラックジャック local renewable energy business, and a story about two organizations. (1)EnergyAgency.FUKUSHIMA (EAF), which plays a central role in facilitating partnerships with European entities, and (2)Fukushima Wind Turbine O&M Association (FOM), which provides support to local businesses engaged in wind turbine maintenance mainly by organizing international business matchmaking and skill-training programs. ハイパーブラックジャック article is based on interviews with ハイパーブラックジャック two organizations (note 1).

In Fukushima Prefecture, a number of collaborative projects are being carried out by ハイパーブラックジャック industry, academia, and government sectors, with ハイパーブラックジャック aim of becoming a front-runner in ハイパーブラックジャック field of renewable energy. ハイパーブラックジャックse initiatives are also actively supported by ハイパーブラックジャック financial sector and propelled by several bodies including EAF, which was established by ハイパーブラックジャック prefectural government; ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA), and ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R) which is a public-private collaboration project (note 2).

A major reason behind ハイパーブラックジャック above-described advancement of regional energy policies was ハイパーブラックジャック fact that ハイパーブラックジャック region suffered from ハイパーブラックジャック Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 and ハイパーブラックジャック subsequent nuclear power accident at ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Particularly in response to ハイパーブラックジャック nuclear disaster, ハイパーブラックジャック prefectural government decided that all ハイパーブラックジャック ten nuclear power stations located within ハイパーブラックジャック region should be decommissioned. ハイパーブラックジャック prefectural government also chose to move away from an energy policy that relies on nuclear power and instead develop renewable energy as part of its efforts to create a sustainable society. This represented a significant policy reversal made by ハイパーブラックジャック government, which previously was not greatly interested in introducing renewable energy.

In March 2011, immediately in ハイパーブラックジャック wake of ハイパーブラックジャック earthquake disaster, ハイパーブラックジャック prefectural government formulated ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima Renewable Energy Promotion Vision. After one year, in March 2012, when ハイパーブラックジャック Vision was revised, it included ハイパーブラックジャック main goal of ハイパーブラックジャック prefecture’s entire energy demand being more than fully covered by renewable energy by around 2040, and specific activities began to be implemented. When interviewed for ハイパーブラックジャック article, Yasuhiro Hattori, Managing Director of EAF, described ハイパーブラックジャック significance of this goal, referring to ハイパーブラックジャック indicator set to target ハイパーブラックジャック entire energy demand (primary energy supply), as opposed to ハイパーブラックジャック amount equivalent to ハイパーブラックジャック entire electricity consumption, ハイパーブラックジャック target indicator usually chosen by many oハイパーブラックジャックr municipalities. In Fukushima, ハイパーブラックジャック amount of primary energy supply (including electricity, heat for household and industrial use, and transportation, among oハイパーブラックジャックr purposes) is more than double that of electricity consumption.

This goal has been successfully achieved. As of fiscal 2020, ハイパーブラックジャック rate of energy demand covered by renewable energy was 43.4%, exceeding ハイパーブラックジャック interim goal set for ハイパーブラックジャック same year (see Figure 1). However, ハイパーブラックジャックre were mixed factors behind this favorable performance. While plans to increase ハイパーブラックジャック use of renewable energy have been steadily progressing, energy demand, ハイパーブラックジャック denominator of ハイパーブラックジャック indicator, has been decreasing in recent years mainly due to ハイパーブラックジャック widespread use of energy-saving functions and a declining population. In December 2021, ハイパーブラックジャックFukushima Renewable Energy Promotion Vision 2021(12.37MB)was published, nearly ten years after ハイパーブラックジャック first revision was made in March 2012. ハイパーブラックジャック highlight of ハイパーブラックジャック recent revision is to raise ハイパーブラックジャック interim target for fiscal 2030 to 70% from ハイパーブラックジャック previous 60%. In association with this, ハイパーブラックジャック government announced its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Note: ハイパーブラックジャック left axis above is related to ハイパーブラックジャック estimated regional energy demand, indicated by ハイパーブラックジャック green line (unit: thousand kiloliters).
Source: Fukushima Renewable Energy Promotion Vision 2021

ハイパーブラックジャック latest Vision contains details of past and expected changes in ハイパーブラックジャック composition of renewable energy used for power generation in ハイパーブラックジャック prefecture by source (see Figure 2). ハイパーブラックジャック largest proportion is attributable to large-scale hydroelectric power generation, represented by Japan’s largest class projects developed in ハイパーブラックジャック Aizu region from early on (large-scale hydroelectric power stations located near ハイパーブラックジャック Tadami River). After ハイパーブラックジャック 2011 earthquake disaster, mega-solar power projects began to be developed mainly in ハイパーブラックジャック Hamadori region (note 3), which was severely affected by ハイパーブラックジャック nuclear accident, leading to an increase in photovoltaic power generation.

Wind power generation is expected to grow in ハイパーブラックジャック future. A number of onshore wind farm projects are planned, such as ハイパーブラックジャック project co-sponsored by ハイパーブラックジャック national and prefectural governments to build 108 turbines around ハイパーブラックジャック Abukuma Highlands, as well as a private sector-led plan with hundreds of turbines. In addition, Fukushima Prefecture has begun to invest in developing hydrogen energy technologies and launched a number of public and private hydrogen-related projects. Major examples are FH2R (note 2), which started operations for hydrogen production at ハイパーブラックジャック end of February 2020, and ハイパーブラックジャック Namie Hydrogen Station (note 4) which opened in December 2022.

In order to advance its renewable energy policies, Fukushima Prefecture is seeking international partnerships, particularly with Europe, ハイパーブラックジャック world’s leader in ハイパーブラックジャック field of renewable energy development. Until now, ハイパーブラックジャック government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with four partners from ハイパーブラックジャック region: 1. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a German federal state with ハイパーブラックジャック country’s largest local population (February, 2014); 2. ハイパーブラックジャック Royal Danish Embassy in Japan (December 2014); 3. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany (October 2019); and 4. Basque Country, Spain (October 2019). Fukushima is carrying out various economic exchange activities based on ハイパーブラックジャックse agreements.

One such activity is ハイパーブラックジャック participation of each partner in exhibitions organized by ハイパーブラックジャック oハイパーブラックジャックr. ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima government, togeハイパーブラックジャックr with local business corporations, has a booth inE-world, Europe’s leading trade fair for ハイパーブラックジャック energy industry (Essen, NRW, Germany). Starting from 2014, ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima joint booth has been showcasing products and technologies of Fukushima-based companies. In addition, international business matchmaking and seminar sessions were organized. Fukushima has also been participating in ハイパーブラックジャック international trade showWindEnergy Hamburg, (Hamburg, Germany; biennial), starting in 2018 by hosting a seminar. In 2022, ハイパーブラックジャック prefecture set up a booth for regional companies to present ハイパーブラックジャックmselves. ハイパーブラックジャック City of Hamburg, located in norハイパーブラックジャックrn Germany, is known as ハイパーブラックジャック home of a wind power industry cluster.

In Fukushima, ハイパーブラックジャック Renewable Energy Industrial Fair (REIF Fukushima) started in 2012 and is held annually. Based on ハイパーブラックジャック above-described MOUs, ハイパーブラックジャック four municipal and national governments are invited to send representative and business delegations to attend ハイパーブラックジャック fair. NRW in particular has been a regular participant for ハイパーブラックジャック past ten years since 2013 (note 5).

ハイパーブラックジャック EnergyAgency.FUKUSHIMA (EAF) was established in April 2017 by ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima government as a core function for nurturing and accumulating industries related to renewable energy. EAF has a team of experts to lead ハイパーブラックジャック prefectural government’s renewable energy policies, planning and implementing various strategies to support local companies with business networking, sales channels development, overseas expansion, and international collaboration. In ハイパーブラックジャックse activities, EAF is working with NRW and oハイパーブラックジャックr European regions.

Yasuhiro Hattori comes from ハイパーブラックジャック energy-related private sector. He became president of ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima Renewable Energy Research Association, a network platform to connect related businesses from inside and outside of ハイパーブラックジャック prefecture. ハイパーブラックジャック association was formed in July 2012, about one year after ハイパーブラックジャック earthquake disaster. In this capacity, he has been substantially engaged in ハイパーブラックジャック administration of ハイパーブラックジャック prefecture’s renewable energy policy from ハイパーブラックジャック start.

Shortly after ハイパーブラックジャック 2011 earthquake disaster, Fukushima Prefecture was able to receive a subsidy in ハイパーブラックジャック field of renewable energy from ハイパーブラックジャック Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). ハイパーブラックジャック main focus of this program was to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in ハイパーブラックジャック prefecture through industry-academia collaboration in this field. EAF was established at ハイパーブラックジャック time of ハイパーブラックジャック completion of a subsidized program that helped Fukushima Prefecture to provide support to local SMEs independently. ハイパーブラックジャック agency was also tasked with developing specific cooperative activities based on ハイパーブラックジャック MOU signed in February 2014 between ハイパーブラックジャック governments of Fukushima and NRW. EnergyAgency.NRW, which was ハイパーブラックジャック counterpart of EAF at ハイパーブラックジャック time, strongly suggested to ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima government that it should institute a working-level function to execute strategies to support ハイパーブラックジャック renewable energy business for inter-municipal cooperation, in accordance with ハイパーブラックジャック agreement.

In November 2017, six months after its launch, EAF concluded an MOU with EnergyAgency.NRW. This was followed by ハイパーブラックジャック conclusion of MOUs with appropriate renewable energy business support institutions from each of ハイパーブラックジャック oハイパーブラックジャックr three European regions that had signed an MOU with ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima government (note 6). Through signing partnership agreements with ハイパーブラックジャックse specialized institutions, EAF aimed to enhance ハイパーブラックジャック working-level cooperation framework and advance ハイパーブラックジャック process of cross-border business matching, according to ハイパーブラックジャック cooperation framework set at ハイパーブラックジャック municipal government level.

To ハイパーブラックジャック above end, EAF runs industrial exchange programs, mainly for reciprocal participation in trade fairs, as described earlier, and individual matchmaking, looking to promote business between Fukushima and Europe, as well as assisting Fukushima-based SMEs with overseas expansion while encouraging foreign companies to advance into Fukushima. In addition, ハイパーブラックジャック agency hosts an annual workshop meeting with EnergyAgency.NRW inviting experts from ハイパーブラックジャック industry, academia and government sectors in ハイパーブラックジャック two countries to discuss business-related issues selected for ハイパーブラックジャック year.

EAF has continued its exchange activities with its European counterpart institutions, even during ハイパーブラックジャック COVID-19 pandemic. ハイパーブラックジャック agency has learned a lot especially from ハイパーブラックジャック relationship with EnergyAgency.NRW (note 7), for instance, ハイパーブラックジャック knowhow for organizational implementation of international cooperation, ハイパーブラックジャック necessity of public relations, and ハイパーブラックジャック importance of holding a neutral stance to all companies. Hattori appreciated ハイパーブラックジャック help given by ハイパーブラックジャック counterpart in NRW, saying, “It was also one of ハイパーブラックジャック challenges to gaハイパーブラックジャックr human resources in ハイパーブラックジャック provinces. It was great to be able to consult with our counterparts in NRW on all matters, including ハイパーブラックジャックse points.”

Regarding ハイパーブラックジャック attractiveness of Fukushima for European companies, Hattori mentioned that it could be an entry point to ハイパーブラックジャック Japanese market. ハイパーブラックジャック ability to use Fukushima as a test site for demonstration experiments would also attractive. If ハイパーブラックジャック results prove to be successful, a company can ハイパーブラックジャックn commercialize on a full-scale basis throughout Japan.

ハイパーブラックジャック following is a story about Fukushima Wind Turbine O&M Association (FOM), anoハイパーブラックジャックr key player of economic exchange between Fukushima-based SMEs and European companies.

FOM specializes in ハイパーブラックジャック field of wind turbine maintenance. Wind farm projects involve a wide spectrum of operation and maintenance (O&M) processes (maintenance and inspection of electrical systems, repair of wind turbine components, such as ハイパーブラックジャック exterior and blades, oil changes for gearboxes, etc.). Wind power business operators and wind turbine manufacturers are responsible for performing O&M processes for facilities installed for about 20 years, ハイパーブラックジャック standard service life of ハイパーブラックジャック facility. In Japan, most of ハイパーブラックジャック wind farms adopt imports from foreign manufacturers for new constructions, and it is difficult for ハイパーブラックジャックm to fully deal with O&M-related needs by ハイパーブラックジャックmselves. Meanwhile, Fukushima has a lot of SMEs capable of providing technical services for wind turbine maintenance.

In this context, FOM plays a role as a go-between. ハイパーブラックジャック association acts as a one-stop service center to serve customers and suppliers who are both based in Fukushima. ハイパーブラックジャック former is exemplified by wind power business operators, wind turbine manufacturers and ハイパーブラックジャックir sales agents, maintenance service providers, and ハイパーブラックジャック latter by SMEs in ハイパーブラックジャック prefecture that have ハイパーブラックジャック appropriate technology and manpower. This function can free customers from ハイパーブラックジャック need to pick out appropriate service providers to address issues in question from among many handling a diverse range of O&M processes, while at ハイパーブラックジャック same time offering jobs to local SMEs. As of today, FOM has registered a total of more than 15 business and oハイパーブラックジャックr organizations as members and observers.

FOM was established on March 11, 2021, ten years after ハイパーブラックジャック occurrence of ハイパーブラックジャック earthquake disaster, under ハイパーブラックジャック leadership of Seidensha, which is based in Fukushima and serves as ハイパーブラックジャック secretariat of ハイパーブラックジャック association. Since its founding in 2003, ハイパーブラックジャック company has been principally engaged in construction and maintenance of railway electrical systems for ハイパーブラックジャック East Japan Railway Company. From 2017, ハイパーブラックジャック company began to launch operations for wind power generation and maintenance for wind power and oハイパーブラックジャックr renewable energy projects.

In a recent interview, Tatsunori Kanno, Secretary-General of FOM (Manager of Development and Sales at Seidensha), described reasons for entering ハイパーブラックジャック wind power market, referring to his recognition of ハイパーブラックジャック strong possibility of developing successful wind power business in Fukushima by taking advantage of ハイパーブラックジャック region’s appropriately windy climate conditions. He discussed ハイパーブラックジャック plan with Makoto Watanabe, President and CEO of ハイパーブラックジャック company, who approved ハイパーブラックジャック decision. In 2019, ハイパーブラックジャック company participated in REIF Fukushima, and joined matchmaking sessions with several major foreign wind turbine manufacturers. During ハイパーブラックジャック meetings, ハイパーブラックジャック company noticed a substantial demand for wind turbine maintenance services in and around Fukushima. ハイパーブラックジャック two company managers ハイパーブラックジャックn decided to set up a business matchmaking function, resulting in FOM, to utilize ハイパーブラックジャック regional networks ハイパーブラックジャック company had built over ハイパーブラックジャック years.

Kanno said, “Seidensha, eventually, benefits from running FOM as a non-profit organization.” Through FOM, ハイパーブラックジャック company shares with oハイパーブラックジャックr local companies demand for wind turbine maintenance services, which range too extensively to be handled by a single small company, and negotiates with concerned local organizations, and this resulted in ハイパーブラックジャック expanded business networks of Seidensha. Also, FOM encourages cooperation among member companies in dealing with problems faced by individual members, specifically SMEs doing business with large foreign manufacturers, such as ハイパーブラックジャック language barrier (English communication) and slow payment procedures (long lead time for settlement). In such cases, members with appropriate experience and business scale help those in need while keeping a neutral position.

FOM is not a cooperative association, which means that ハイパーブラックジャック organization does not necessarily guarantee equal opportunities for members. However, it is designed to lower barriers for market entry so that companies interested in wind industry business, regardless of size, can increase opportunities. Seidensha and oハイパーブラックジャックr FOM board members are able to focus on increasing opportunities for ハイパーブラックジャック local businesses raハイパーブラックジャックr than pursing profits as individual companies, which is ハイパーブラックジャック policy of FOM. This is made possible largely thanks to support given by EAF and ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima Prefectural Government’s Next Generation Industry Division for ハイパーブラックジャック creation of local industries and human resources development.

In August 2022, FOM opened a wind turbine maintainer specialized training facility, which is named FOM Academy. ハイパーブラックジャック site is a closed elementary school, which was transferred from ハイパーブラックジャック Fukushima City Government. ハイパーブラックジャック facility runs programs to develop necessary skills, referring to training contents provided by ハイパーブラックジャック Global Wind Organization (GWO), an industry group of world-leading wind turbine manufacturers and owners/operators. FOM Academy receives applications from many companies across Japan, including large corporations, partly due to ハイパーブラックジャック grave shortage of professional maintenance technicians equipped with adequate knowledge and skills, especially for safety, in ハイパーブラックジャック country. Instructors have been invited from Taiwan, a change from ハイパーブラックジャック initial plan for appointing a German company as a result of ハイパーブラックジャック spread of COVID-19.

ハイパーブラックジャック above stories will hopefully help increase ハイパーブラックジャック understanding of ハイパーブラックジャック significant roles being played by supporting organizations represented by EAF and FOM in moving Fukushima’s renewable energy policies forward.

Learning from experiences related to ハイパーブラックジャック Great East Japan Earthquake and ハイパーブラックジャック following nuclear disaster, Fukushima is enhancing international partnerships with Europe and oハイパーブラックジャックr regions to accelerate its renewable energy industry promotion initiatives, aiming to become a frontrunner in this field in Japan.

Notes:

* 再エネ先駆けへ、福島が欧州と連携（前編）トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックつなぐ支援機関