DeepWind delivers key updates on Japan’s offshore wind sector in English every week.
This article provides a full digest of the major developments in 2025.
August
- Policy: Floating wind target clarified – 15 GW by 2040, EEZ development to accelerate
- Industry: Mitsubishi-led Consortium Exits Three Offshore Wind Projects
- Technology: MODEC Secures AiP for TLP Floating Wind Concept
August 2025 marked a turning point where Japan’s offshore wind market advanced on three fronts: clearer policy direction, industry suprising, and new design progress.
September
September 2025 highlighted both the challenges of Japan’s offshore wind business environment and the government’s additional support measures. Triggered by Mitsubishi Corporation’s withdrawal, re-tendering efforts accelerated in Akita and Chiba, while surveys revealed significant impacts on local supply chains. In response, the government moved to extend sea area utilization beyond 30 years and revise tender rules to ensure long-term project viability.
At the same time, regional initiatives advanced steadily. Kitakyushu announced plans for a floating wind hub at Hibikinada, while Fukui Prefecture estimated an economic ripple effect of ¥123 billion and nearly 7,000 new jobs from the planned Awara offshore wind project.
On the technology front, the unveiling of a new cable-laying vessel and international collaboration between Japan’s floating wind consortium and Scotland’s EMEC reflected progress in infrastructure and R&D capacity. Even under rising costs and uncertain market conditions, Japan is pushing forward with both fixed-bottom and floating wind opportunities.
October
October 2025 marked a turning point for Japan’s offshore wind industry, with Akita once again at the center of attention.
The World Offshore Wind Summit Japan 2025 highlighted themes such as floating technology, supply chain development, and workforce training—signaling that Japan’s offshore wind sector is entering a new phase of maturity.
From an industrial perspective, several key developments stood out: Furukawa Electric’s new subsea cable plant, DENZAI E&C’s assembly base in Akita, and FibreMax’s plan to establish a production hub all underscored Japan’s growing capacity to localize manufacturing and installation activities. Together, these moves suggest the gradual emergence of a regional industrial cluster across Tohoku and Hokkaido.
At the same time, the restructuring of the Choshi offshore wind project illustrated the challenges of developer transitions and project continuity. Yet, Japan’s domestic ecosystem is strengthening—exemplified by FLOWRA’s ¥6 billion national R&D program for floating wind and expanded O&M collaborations among local engineering firms.
November
November 2025 saw simultaneous developments in policy, industrial infrastructure, and project conditions for Japan’s offshore wind sector. In the first half of the month, initiatives such as offshore green hydrogen, partnerships with overseas developers, and preparations for floating wind in local regions highlighted new areas of activity. At the same time, cost inflation and project reassessments continued to surface across the industry.
Toward the end of the month, the government introduced concrete policy adjustments, including revisions to the auction rules following Mitsubishi’s withdrawal and allowing Round 2 and 3 projects to participate in the LTDA scheme. While industrial bases—including floating foundations and port infrastructure—are gradually taking shape, ensuring project economics remains a core challenge for Japan as it moves from preparation toward implementation.
December
December 2025 marked a turning point for Japan’s offshore wind sector, as policy adjustments and project selection progressed in parallel. While institutional reviews and support schemes evolved in response to Round 1 withdrawals, several projects in Akita, Niigata, and Nagasaki demonstrated continued commitment through guarantee payments.
At the same time, advances in floating wind commercialization, supporting technologies, and offshore infrastructure financing suggest that the sector is moving from an expansion phase toward one where long-term viability and execution capability are increasingly under scrutiny.
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