Japan Accelerates Offshore Wind with Projects Involving BP, JERA, Marubeni, and Others

Japan is making significant strides in accelerating its renewable energy programs by selecting two consortiums to develop offshore wind projects. These projects are set to provide over 1 GW of energy, with one potentially becoming one of the largest offshore wind farms in Japan.

The country’s third round solicitation, which took place in the first half of 2024, attracted industry attention. Notable winners of this round include BP and JERA, who have announced plans to combine their operations. The consortiums also include key players such as Marubeni, Tokyo Gas, and Kansai Electric Power.

The selection process was jointly conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. The winning companies, including JERA and partner Green Power Investment Co., bring valuable experience from projects in Taiwan and Europe. JERA has successfully managed projects like the Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm and Wind Farm Tsugaru, both significant players in Japan’s renewable energy landscape.

Both projects selected in this round involve fixed-bottom wind farms positioned closer to shore. While Japan’s offshore topography presents challenges for fixed-bottom installations, the country anticipates the need to explore floating wind farms to achieve its ambitious power generation targets.

Project Details

1. Sea of Japan, Aomori Prefecture: The first project will be located offshore of Aomori Prefecture, featuring 41 Siemens Gamesa turbines with a total capacity of 615 MW. The Tsugaru Offshore Energy Consortium, comprising JERA, Green Power, and Tohoku Electric Power, aims to develop one of Japan’s largest offshore wind power projects.

2. Sea of Japan, Yamagata Prefecture: The second project, situated offshore of Yuza Town in Yamagata Prefecture, will consist of 30 Siemens Gamesa turbines with a total capacity of 450 MW. The Yamagata Yuza Offshore consortium includes Marubeni, BP, Kansai Electric Power, Tokyo Gas, and Marutaka.

The government selected the project sites in October 2023, with both projects scheduled to commence operations in June 2030. Japan has set ambitious targets of achieving 10 GW of offshore wind power by 2030 and 45 GW by 2040.