Japan Floating Offshore Wind Energy
Recent developments and initiatives in Japan’s floating offshore wind space signal opportunities for U.S. suppliers and developers in the sector. During Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s April 2024 State Visit, the White House released a Joint Leaders’ Statement announcing Japan as the United States’ first international partner in the “Floating Offshore Wind Shot” initiative. Just one month earlier, on March 14, 2024, Japan launched its Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA).
FLOWRA is a new industry association created to enable widespread and large-scale commercialization of floating offshore wind by fostering collaboration among floating offshore power generation companies. The organization aims to help its members promote technology development, address cost challenges, and mitigate risk. FLOWRA limits membership to floating wind power generation operators; half of its 20 members are electric utilities and gas companies. FLOWRA also seeks to align with overseas organizations for international standardization of technical systems in the wind energy sector, and to promote information exchange and collaborative research and technological development to foster the growth of the entire industry worldwide. The association has already begun collaborating with the Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the Oceanic Network. In June, FLOWRA organized its first International Forum. Officials from alliance countries and regions were invited and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel provided remarks to over 300 attendees.
The Japanese government has set targets to install 10 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2030 and up to 45 GW (including floating offshore wind) by 2040. There are not yet specific government targets for floating offshore wind. Japan has offshore wind energy agreements in place with fivesix countries/regions: the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and the European Union. FLOWRA aims to support the development of floating offshore wind with these partners.
CS Japan encourages U.S. companies in the floating offshore wind industry, as well as associations, technology developers, power generators, and research institutions interested in the Japanese market to keep apprised of FLOWRA’s activities and events.
For more information, please contact the U.S. Commercial Service at Office.Tokyo@trade.gov.