Last week, a delegation of Norway’s major offshore wind companies visited Tokyo to meet with METI officials, the Japan Wind Power Association and leading energy companies such as TEPCO Renewable Power, Tokyo Gas, Kansai Electric, etc., in order to showcase Norwegian technology and solutions.

This high profile meeting came just several months after Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited Tokyo to meet Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and discuss ways to expand cooperation in renewables and clean energy technologies.

Japan and Norway share a number of approaches in energy. Both have committed to net zero policies, but also firmly believe in the right to continue exploring hydrocarbon resources for the sake of energy security. The two countries are also in lockstep when it comes to subsea mining, a practice that targets raw materials below the seafloor that are critical for clean tech such as EV batteries and more.

During his Tokyo visit, PM Støre conveyed to PM Kishida Norway’s interest in cooperation in decarbonizing the countries’ maritime sectors, developing hydrogen fuel for hard-to-abate industries, as well as ramping up battery production, and carbon capture and storage projects.

But perhaps the most prominent and immediate touchpoint between the two countries will be in wind power.