BY MAGDALENA OSUMI
Over a third of planned onshore wind projects in Japan face delays, permitting risks or other development hurdles, according to industry body Japan Wind Power Association. While discussions about future growth often focus on turbines planned for new sites, many existing assets have reached an age when upgrade investments or full replacement is now vital.
Some wind power developers and asset owners are deciding to modernize, or “repower”, existing wind farms – a strategy that can unlock substantial gains in energy production without many of the hurdles associated with greenfield projects.
Repowering typically involves replacing aging turbines with newer, larger and more efficient machines while leveraging existing site infrastructure, grid connections and operational experience. Such an opportunity over the next decade exceeds 1 GW in power capacity.
In mature wind markets such as Germany and Denmark, repowering is an important tool for extending the life of established wind sites and maximizing energy output from limited land resources. By increasing generation at proven wind sites and making more efficient use of existing grid infrastructure, repowering can help bridge the gap between an aging first-generation fleet and the country’s future renewable energy ambitions.