When you think of offshore wind power in Asia-Pacific, your mind might immediately jump to China or Taiwan. But here’s something you might not know: Japan was the first country in the region to build an offshore wind project. Yes, it wasn’t China or Taiwan—it was Japan, over two decades ago.
And let’s not stop there. Japan also pioneered the world’s first floating offshore wind farm, Fukushima Forward. This groundbreaking project, launched in 2013, came just two years after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima. It wasn’t just a technical achievement; it was a statement—a bold step toward redefining the country’s energy future in the wake of its nuclear crisis.
So, why didn’t Japan’s offshore wind industry take off from there? Why did it fail to capitalize on these early milestones while China and Taiwan surged ahead?
Where Japan Stumbled
From my perspective, the answer boils down to one word: commitment. For years, Japan lacked a strong, sustained policy framework to support the growth of offshore wind. It wasn’t until December 2020—nearly a decade after Fukushima Forward—that the government announced clear offshore wind targets: 10GW by 2030 and 30-45GW by 2040.
That announcement finally gave the industry a long-term perspective, sparking renewed interest from international developers and local stakeholders alike. But even with the momentum that followed, the challenges were—and still are—significant.
Challenges That Can’t Be Ignored
Let me be frank: building offshore wind farms in Japan is no small feat. Unlike Europe, where decades of experience have streamlined the process, Japan faces unique hurdles that require creative solutions.
First, there’s the geography. Japan is no stranger to earthquakes and typhoons, and these natural forces don’t play nice with offshore turbines. Designing project-specific solutions for these conditions isn’t just technically challenging; it’s expensive and time-consuming.
Then there’s the regulatory maze. Navigating Japan’s permitting process is a lesson in patience, and delays can easily derail projects. Add to this the government’s recent push for shorter commercial operation dates (COD), and you have developers and suppliers scrambling to meet aggressive timelines.
And let’s talk about the current status of local content. Though not as demanding as they have been in Taiwan until recent changes, proposing initiatives to create jobs and strengthen the local and domestic economy is encouraged in current auction design. But the reality is, Japan’s current infrastructure is still going through transformation to meet these demands. For example, there’s no domestic facility capable of producing the advanced nacelles or blades needed for modern offshore turbines. While efforts are underway to change this, progress has been slow.
Progress and Hope on the Horizon
That said, it’s not all doom and gloom. In recent years, I’ve seen encouraging signs that Japan is starting to find its footing. Having listened to the feedback from the industry after Round 1 of the General Sea Areas, the government adjusted its auction criteria, and in Round 2 we saw international players like RWE and Iberdrola win projects in collaboration with local consortia. The results of Round 3 for another 1GW of capacity in two areas (Aomori South and Yuza) have shown similar picture, igniting further interest from developers with international experience.
Local manufacturing is also inching forward. GE Vernova, in partnership with Toshiba, has been working to set up a nacelle final assembly facility in Yokohama. Meanwhile, efforts like the Green Innovation Fund aim to transform existing factories to produce offshore wind components.
Add to this the ongoing efforts to prepare the legal, regulatory, technical and financial basis for floating offshore wind in Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone, which is the 8th largest in the world, the potential in Japan will grow significantly.
The Bigger Picture
As someone who’s watched this industry closely, I believe Japan has the potential to be a global leader in offshore wind. But the road ahead won’t be easy. The challenges are real—rising costs, regulatory hurdles, and supply chain gaps are just the tip of the iceberg.
That said, Japan’s increasing demand for clean, secure energy is a powerful motivator. And the way the industry navigates these challenges will not only shape Japan’s offshore wind future but also provide lessons for other emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and beyond.
The world is watching, and so am I. The question is: will Japan reclaim its place at the forefront of offshore wind innovation? I believe it can—but only if it continues to learn from the past and lean into the future.
Interested in learning more about this exciting market or increasing your involvement? As Turner & Townsend JUMBO, we are ready to contribute to your current and future market analyses as well as project development activities with the top-notch competence we have and the hands-on experience we have been gaining.
Ozan Uslu is the Senior Consultant for JUMBO Consulting Group, a highly specialised advisory offering strategic services and project delivery consultancy for offshore wind, offshore transmission systems and energy island projects, covering the entire project lifecycle from early development, procurement, construction to O&M. Headquartered in Denmark, JUMBO Consulting Group’s services are founded on deep sector knowledge and delivery of contractual and commercial solutions within its core disciplines, development services, supply chain development, category-, procurement- and contract management and advisory.