Japan eyes building more offshore wind power farms in exclusive economic zone

The Japanese government may enact legislation to allow offshore wind farms to be built in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

After looking into the compatibility of building offshore wind farms in the EEZ with international laws, an expert panel of the cabinet office concluded that the government should enact legislation.

While offshore wind farms are currently being built in Japan’s territorial waters within 12 nautical miles from the coast, businesses say such areas will be insufficient in the future.

The government wants to generate 30 to 45 gigawatts of power through offshore wind farms by 2040.

The EEZ stretches no more than 200 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline.

The farther offshore wind farms are from coasts, the more expensive it will be to operate them. However, experts say that those offshore wind farms farther from the coasts benefit from stronger winds.

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea says that nations have certain rights in other countries’ EEZs, such as freedom of navigation.

Only a limited number of countries have built offshore wind farms in their EEZs so far.