Published: November 8, 2025 | Updated: June 26, 2026
PROJECT EXECUTIONJapan’s “Promising Zones” occupy the second tier of the country’s three-stage offshore wind pipeline — positioned after Preparation Zone screening and before the formal Promotion Zone tender process. Nine areas have received Promising Zone designation under the Offshore Renewable Energy Act, signaling institutional readiness for advancement but not yet commercial viability. All current Promising Zone projects assume fixed-bottom foundations, with individual capacities ranging from 300 MW to 1,140 MW.
👉 Japan’s Offshore Wind Promotion Zones: A Complete Project List and Structural Market Analysis
This article provides an overview of all projects designated as “Promising Zones” under Japan’s Offshore Renewable Energy Act.
From this page, you can access detailed articles for each individual project.
If you wish to check the overview and latest progress of all projects designated as “Promotion Zones,” “Promising Zones,” and “Preparation Zones” under Japan’s Offshore Renewable Energy Act, please refer to the Japan Offshore Wind Project Map.
Promising Zone Project Summaries
| Area | Capacity | Technology | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishikari Offshore, Hokkaido | 910–1,140MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
| Gan-wu Minami-goshi Offshore, Hokkaido | 560–710MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
| Shimamaki Offshore, Hokkaido | 440–560MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
| Offshore (Japan Sea North), Aomori | 300MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
| Akita City Offshore, Akita | 370MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
| Sakata Offshore, Yamagata | 500MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
| Isumi Offshore, Chiba | 400MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
| Kujukuri Offshore, Chiba | 410MW | Fixed‑bottom | Read more |
| Hibikinada Offshore, Fukuoka | 480MW | Fixed-bottom | Read more |
If you wish to check the overview and latest progress of all projects designated as “Promotion Zones,” “Promising Zones,” and “Preparation Zones” under Japan’s Offshore Renewable Energy Act, please refer to the Japan Offshore Wind Project Map.
Promising Zones mark where the pipeline is being built — not where the market has arrived.
Japan’s three-tier offshore wind pipeline (Preparation Zone → Promising Zone → Promotion Zone) organizes projects by institutional readiness, not commercial viability. Promising Zone designation confirms that an area has cleared initial feasibility screening, but the gap between Promising Zone status and a bankable Promotion Zone project typically spans 3–7 years of environmental assessment, grid interconnection studies, and stakeholder coordination. Market participants who read Promising Zones as near-term investment opportunities risk a significant mismatch in their development timelines.
The geographic concentration of current Promising Zones — three in Hokkaido, plus areas along the Sea of Japan and Pacific coasts — mirrors the Promotion Zone distribution and reinforces a structural point: Japan’s offshore wind pipeline forms where execution prerequisites align, not simply where wind resources are strongest. Understanding which Promising Zone areas have favorable port access, realistic grid connection routes, and compatible installation vessel logistics gives developers and investors a 5–10 year lead on infrastructure positioning decisions.
Promising Zone designation does not trigger a government-led competitive tender. Unlike Promotion Zone projects — which are subject to MLIT-coordinated tenders under the Offshore Renewable Energy Act — Promising Zone areas remain in a pre-tender development phase. Progression to Promotion Zone requires separate application and government review, with no guaranteed timeline or advancement quota. Developers must initiate and fund environmental impact assessment independently.
👉 Japan’s Offshore Wind “Preparation Zone” Projects