Japan accelerates its offshore wind development

Japan selects five promising sites off the coast of Hokkaido for offshore wind farm development, reinforcing its renewable energy and carbon neutrality strategy. This decision marks a major step forward in the global fight against climate change.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The Japanese government announced Friday that it has selected five sites off Hokkaido as “promising areas” for offshore wind farm development, marking the second step in a three-part selection process.

The decision comes as Japan seeks to accelerate the development of renewable energy in order to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The newly designated promising areas are located off Ishikari, Ganu-Minamishiribeshi, Shimamaki, Hiyama and Matsumae, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

These five sites were chosen after a government study confirmed their ability to connect to the power grid. The five areas were promoted from the “preparatory areas”, which are the first step in the three-step selection process. The government has defined the appropriate scale of generation for the areas and has tentatively secured the necessary grid capacity through its own study. The new study process, called the “grid security scheme,” was introduced last year to speed up the development of wind farms, an industry ministry official said.

To become eligible for public auction, a “promising area” must be promoted to “promotion area” status that meets all the criteria set by a local law. The government will separately announce the outcome of its annual wind farm area selection process this summer, the ministry official said. This will identify some areas as promotional, some as promising and some as preparatory.

Offshore wind is a key driver of Japan’s renewable energy expansion, but the auction process was suspended for nine months last year as the government needed to revise the rules, after criticism from companies about the lack of clarity surrounding the bidding process after the first major round of auctions.

Japan, which has considerable offshore wind potential, is determined to exploit this resource to diversify its energy mix and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The designation of these five promising sites is a critical step in achieving this goal. By accelerating the development of offshore wind farms, Japan is firmly committed to the energy transition and thus contributing to the global fight against climate change.

Japan is aware of the importance of offshore wind energy and continues to implement policies and measures to promote its development. By encouraging the use of renewable energy, the country can reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and promote a more sustainable economy.

In conclusion, the designation of five promising sites off Hokkaido for offshore wind farm development marks a significant step forward in Japan’s renewable energy strategy. The country is positioning itself as a major player in the offshore wind sector, by relying on its natural potential and by implementing favorable policies. These actions contribute to the achievement of Japan’s carbon neutrality targets and to the global fight against climate change. It now remains to closely follow the next steps in the selection process and the concrete steps that will be taken to promote these promising areas as offshore wind farm development sites.

Energiequelle GmbH has launched replacement work for old turbines at its Minden-Hahlen site, aiming for long-term structural maintenance with the installation of three new 200-metre machines.
GE Vernova will equip the Ialomiţa wind farm with 42 turbines of 6.1 MW, strengthening its presence in the European onshore wind sector with a 252 MW project in partnership with Greenvolt.
Eversource Energy posts a one-time $75mn charge linked to unforeseen costs in the Revolution Wind project, while tightening its 2025 earnings forecast.
The Renewables Infrastructure Group has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement with Virgin Media O2 for its onshore wind farms in the United Kingdom, ensuring price stability for both parties.
Eight local associations in Normandy and Hauts-de-France will receive a total of €120,000, financed by revenues from three RWE wind farms, to support public-impact projects in 2025.
CWP Europe formalised two major projects in Albania and Montenegro with backing from the European Commission, reinforcing the Balkans’ integration into the European energy market.
Elawan Energy secured two wind power projects totalling 92MW in Romania through a long-term public contract, strengthening its presence in the region with operations scheduled to begin in 2028.
A study conducted in the Gulf of Lion highlights the risk of collisions between migratory birds and floating wind turbine blades, as the region prepares to host 19 additional turbines by 2031.
Taaleri Energia’s SolarWind III Fund partners with Lords LB Asset Management to develop a 112 MW onshore wind project in Smiltene, scheduled for commissioning in early 2027.
The Dinawan Wind Farm project, first phase of a 1.3 GW energy hub, was selected in the fourth tender round of the Capacity Investment Scheme launched by the Australian Government.
RWE has completed construction of the Kail wind farm, comprising three turbines totalling 12.9 MW, marking its first commissioning in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Ignitis Group has officially submitted its bid to develop a 700 MW offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea, under a Lithuanian state-supported tender scheme.
Ignitis Renewables acquires the remaining stake from Ocean Winds in the Curonian Nord project, securing full ownership of this strategic development in the Baltic Sea.
Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang plans to build the UK’s largest wind turbine facility in Ardersier, with an initial £750mn investment and up to 1,500 jobs created by 2028.
German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex secured 2,170 MW in new orders between July and September, bringing its total volume to 6.7 GW over nine months.
Faria Renewables a finalisé l’acquisition de deux projets éoliens d’une capacité cumulée de 30,8 MW, consolidant son portefeuille d’actifs en Grèce et poursuivant son expansion stratégique sur le marché national.
Google has signed a power purchase agreement with Eneco to supply its Belgian data centre with wind energy from three wind farms totalling 54 MW.
Italian group Dolomiti Energia secures €200mn loan from the European Investment Bank to finance wind farms and modernise power infrastructure in two strategic regions of the country.
Wpd launches a crowdfunding campaign to support the construction of the Bréhand wind farm, aiming to raise €400,000 from residents with a fixed annual interest rate of 7%.
Danish group Orsted will cut a quarter of its workforce by 2027 and reduce its exposure to the United States, relying on a $9.4 billion recapitalisation to consolidate its development in Europe and Asia.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.