DeepWind News Digest delivers key updates on Japan’s offshore wind sector in English every week.
This article provides a full digest of the major developments in November 2025.
November 1st Week
1. Japan–Germany Collaboration on Offshore Green Hydrogen
Japan’s Zen-ei Shoji and Germany’s Kruse Offshore are partnering with Kyushu University to launch an offshore green hydrogen project.
Electricity from offshore wind will be used to electrolyze seawater, with hydrogen collected by vessels. A joint venture will be established in 2026, targeting commercial operation of offshore hydrogen plants in both countries in the early 2030s.
Source: Nikkei (Japanese)
2. Kansai Electric Acquires Irish Offshore Developer Simply Blue Energy
Kansai Electric Power Co. has acquired Simply Blue Energy, an Irish offshore wind developer, making it a subsidiary.
The acquisition aims to leverage Simply Blue’s early-stage project expertise to strengthen Kansai Electric’s offshore capabilities as it targets 9 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2040.
Source: Nikkei (Japanese)
3. Tokyo Government Pushes for Floating Wind in the Izu Islands
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is advancing plans for floating offshore wind around the Izu Islands, with five areas already designated as “preparation zones” under the Renewable Energy Sea Area Act.
The initiative seeks to achieve 1 GW of offshore wind by 2035, reduce dependence on diesel generation, and enhance local energy resilience.
Source: Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shimbun (Japanese)
November 2nd Week
1. Mitsubishi Nagasaki Machine invests ¥4.6 billion in new floating foundation factory
Mitsubishi Nagasaki Machine, part of the Mitsubishi Steel Group, announced a ¥4.6 billion investment to construct a new factory in Nagasaki City’s Kaminoshima industrial area. The facility will serve as a manufacturing base for floating foundations used in offshore wind turbines, as well as defense-related products.
This move highlights how Nagasaki’s shipbuilding and heavy-industry cluster—known for advanced metalworking capabilities such as welding, cutting, and bending—is increasingly pivoting toward the renewable energy supply chain.
Construction will begin soon on the 6.9-hectare site developed by Nagasaki Prefecture, positioning the region as a key player in Japan’s emerging floating offshore wind industry.
Source: Nikkei (Japanese)
2. Cost Reduction and Industrial Development Roadmap by JWPA
As the global energy landscape shifts toward decarbonization, Japan stands at a pivotal moment in developing offshore wind power as a central pillar of its renewable energy strategy.
The Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA) has laid out a comprehensive plan “Building the Industrial Base for Offshore Wind Power and Reducing Generation Costs” to address the current challenges and propose a roadmap for the industry’s evolution from its nascent stage to maturity by 2050.
This article explores the core initiatives and envisioned outcomes presented in the JWPA’s November 2025 report.
3. Rising Costs Put Pressure on Japan’s Offshore Wind Developers
At a recent earnings briefing, ENEOS President Miyata indicated that the company is reassessing the next steps for the offshore wind project off Happo–Noshiro in Akita, including the planned January 2026 start of onshore construction. He noted that project costs continue to rise while electricity prices remain flat, creating a challenging economic environment.
Across the industry, financial pressure is mounting. Mitsubishi Corp. has already withdrawn from three sites in Chiba and Akita, while a JWPA survey found that costs have increased to 2.3 times those assumed in the Round 3 auction model. Developers must secure high-priced PPAs to maintain profitability.
A similar situation is unfolding in Mitsui’s Niigata offshore wind project, where the originally planned turbine model was canceled, prompting the search for alternative turbines and a review of cost-reduction and power sales conditions. The government plans to announce new measures, including re-tendering and support for affected developers, by the end of the year.
Source: Bloomberg (Japanese)
November 3rd Week
1. METI moves to revise offshore wind auction rules following Mitsubishi Corp’s withdrawal
Following the withdrawal of the Mitsubishi-led consortium from three offshore wind sites, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) presented a draft revision of the evaluation criteria for re-tendering from 2026 onward. The proposal introduces both lower and upper limits for bid prices, in response to earlier cases where extremely low bids won but later proved economically unviable. The revised criteria will place greater emphasis on project feasibility, including domestic procurement and detailed planning, rather than price alone.
Source: Nikkei
2. Muroran Port seeks to attract turbine manufacturers and expand local participation
Muroran City in Hokkaido hosted a symposium aimed at promoting local participation and establishing domestic manufacturing for offshore wind turbine components. Discussions focused on attracting European turbine manufacturers and creating production facilities at Muroran Port, which already has a concentration of steel and related industries. Participants highlighted that, given the weight of turbine components and high logistics costs, local production could help reduce overall project costs.
Source: Nikkei
3. China’s MingYang to build new offshore wind turbine factory in the UK
Chinese wind power major MingYang announced plans to establish a new offshore turbine factory in Scotland. With competition intensifying in the Chinese domestic market, the company aims to strengthen its presence in Europe starting with the UK, which has extensive offshore wind deployment. However, industry observers note ongoing concerns in Europe regarding Chinese manufacturers, as well as uncertainties around commercial viability.
Source: Nikkei
November 4th Week
1. Japan to allow Round 2–3 projects to join LTDA to prevent withdrawals
The Japanese government announced that offshore wind projects selected under Round 2 and 3 will be allowed to participate in the Long-Term Decarbonization Auction (LTDA), which guarantees revenue equivalent to fixed costs for around 20 years. With multiple withdrawal cases emerging due to global cost inflation and deteriorating project economics, the government aims to secure business continuity by providing stable cash flows.
Source: Nikkei
2. Taisei Corporation obtains design approval for floating foundations
Taisei Corporation received design approval from ClassNK for its concrete floating foundation for offshore wind. The approval enables the company to begin detailed engineering once specific project sites are awarded. With Japan setting a long-term policy to industrialize floating offshore wind, Taisei aims to deploy a full-scale demonstration unit around 2030.
Source: Nikkei
3. Offshore wind industry clusters forming around Kitakyushu; major project to start operation
Industrial bases for offshore wind component manufacturing are expanding around Kitakyushu and Nagasaki in western Japan. A large-scale offshore wind farm off the coast of Kitakyushu is expected to start operation in FY2025, becoming one of Japan’s largest. Kitakyushu Port is currently the only designated base port in western Japan for assembly and O&M, and a higher share of renewables is increasingly seen as an advantage in corporate attraction efforts.
Source: Nikkei
Monthly Wrap-up
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.
📘 Explore the full-year summary
Catch up on all key offshore wind developments throughout 2025 —
including project updates, policy trends, and floating wind milestones.
👉 Read the Japan Offshore Wind News Digest 2025 (Year in Review)
➡ Japan Offshore Wind News Digest – 2025
Weekly digest with actionable insights for investors, developers, and stakeholders in Japan’s offshore wind. 🎁 Welcome gift: Japan Offshore Wind – 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook (PDF)📩 DeepWind Weekly
- 🔍Market Insights – Understand the latest trends and key topics in Japan’s offshore wind market
- 🏛️Policy & Regulations – Explore Japan’s legal frameworks, auction systems, and designated promotion zones.
- 🌊Projects – Get an overview of offshore wind projects across Japan’s coastal regions.
- 🛠️Technology & Innovation – Discover the latest technologies and innovations shaping Japan’s offshore wind sector.
- 💡Cost Analysis – Dive into Japan-specific LCOE insights and offshore wind cost structures.
