NEDO Launches Strategic Study on Wind Turbine Industry for the Asia-Pacific Region

2026/06/05

Building a Domestic Supply Chain for the Floating Offshore Wind Era

Japan's offshore wind industry policy is entering a new phase.

On May 27, Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) launched a public tender for an "Industrial and Technology Trend Survey on Wind Turbines Suitable for the Asia-Pacific Region, Including Turbines for Floating Offshore Wind Applications." The study will run through September 2027 with a budget of less than JPY 150 million. It aims to develop strategies to strengthen Japan's competitiveness across the wind power supply chain, including turbine manufacturing, operations and maintenance (O&M), certification systems, and testing infrastructure.

Rather than a conventional market study, the initiative represents a strategic policy effort to define Japan's industrial position in the rapidly emerging floating offshore wind sector and the broader Asia-Pacific market.

From Capacity Expansion to Industrial Development

Japan's Seventh Strategic Energy Plan identifies offshore wind as a key pillar in the country's transition toward renewable energy and sets a target of developing 30–45 GW of offshore wind projects, including floating wind, by 2040.

Achieving this goal will require more than simply expanding installed capacity. It will also depend on building a globally competitive domestic industrial base.

The second edition of Japan's Offshore Wind Industry Vision, released in 2025, likewise emphasizes the development of a domestic wind turbine supply chain and the strengthening of local manufacturing capabilities as top priorities.

Until now, Japan's offshore wind policies have largely focused on project development, auction frameworks, and market creation. However, turbines and many critical components remain heavily dependent on overseas suppliers, limiting the value captured by domestic companies.

Under the new study, NEDO will examine business opportunities across multiple layers of the supply chain—including turbine systems, blades, nacelles, electrical systems, and O&M services—and evaluate pathways for Japanese companies to increase participation. The study will also assess organizational structures, financing mechanisms, and policy measures that could support domestic manufacturing and supply-chain localization.

The Need for Wind Turbines Designed for Asia-Pacific Conditions

One notable aspect of the survey is its explicit focus on wind turbines suited to Asia-Pacific conditions.

While the global offshore wind industry has largely evolved around the North Sea market in Europe, conditions across the Asia-Pacific region differ significantly.

Countries such as Japan face unique challenges, including deep-water environments, complex seabed conditions, typhoons, seismic activity, and diverse port infrastructure. As a result, technologies developed for European waters cannot always be applied directly.

This is especially true for floating offshore wind, where the integration of turbine and floating platform design becomes critical. Addressing platform motion, extreme weather conditions, and challenging marine environments is expected to be a defining technological issue for future projects.

Against this backdrop, NEDO intends to assess the competitive landscape of global turbine manufacturers, including their technological capabilities, cost structures, and supply-chain strategies. The study will also consider economic security concerns and evaluate various industrial development scenarios to support future policy formulation.

Certification and Testing Infrastructure Emerging as a New Competitive Frontier

Beyond manufacturing capabilities, certification, testing, and technology validation systems are increasingly viewed as essential components of industrial competitiveness.

In the global offshore wind market, certification services, blade testing facilities, performance verification systems, and standards development capabilities play a critical role in determining a country's position within the value chain.

European countries such as Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands have successfully built industrial clusters around certification bodies and large-scale testing facilities.

Japan, by contrast, still has limited infrastructure dedicated to the testing and validation of large offshore turbines and floating wind technologies, with many certification processes relying on overseas organizations.

Through this study, NEDO plans to evaluate the necessity and market demand for establishing domestic testing and validation facilities. It will also examine potential business models, operational frameworks, and financing structures that could support such infrastructure.

International experience suggests that certification and testing services are not merely technical support functions but high-value segments of the offshore wind industry. Establishing these capabilities domestically could significantly enhance the resilience and competitiveness of Japan's supply chain.

A Critical Test for Japan's Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy

The global offshore wind sector is entering a period of intensified competition.

Chinese turbine manufacturers continue to expand their presence, while European and American companies pursue larger turbine platforms and more aggressive cost-reduction strategies. As a result, competition across the global supply chain is becoming increasingly fierce.

Japan's offshore wind market has faced challenges, including rising costs and slower project development. Nevertheless, the government continues to view floating offshore wind as a strategic growth sector capable of advancing both energy security and industrial competitiveness.

As a nation with one of the world's largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), Japan has significant potential to leverage floating wind technologies and cultivate internationally competitive industries around them.

The outcome of this NEDO study could therefore influence the future direction of Japan's offshore wind policies and industrial strategy. Covering turbine manufacturing, O&M services, certification systems, and testing infrastructure, the initiative may serve as a key indicator of whether Japan can transition from a market-building phase to a globally competitive offshore wind industry ecosystem.

The online briefing session for the tender will be held on June 5, and applications are due by noon on June 26, 2026.