BY ANDREW STATTER
In 2021, offshore wind was set to lead the charge for Japan’s decarbonization and energy security efforts, with the Mitsubishi-led consortium winning all three Round 1 auctions. GE Vernova was ready to supply 134 turbines (each 15-MW) and was deep in negotiations with Toshiba to build a nacelle assembly factory.
Despite well-known headwinds for the industry: rising supply chain costs, rewriting the auction rules after Round 1, high-profile market exits and changing political temperature, offshore wind remains a key growth driver for Japan’s energy mix.
Though we aren’t seeing live auctions right now, there is movement behind the scenes.
In March, METI, MLIT, and MoE published proposed revisions to the Promotion Zone Designation Guideline and Central Method policy, as institutional preparation for the amended Marine Renewable Energy Act that took effect on April 1.
The regulatory groundwork is ready, but no auction launch date has been announced for either Round 1 rebids or the upcoming Round 4 auctions. According to the ministries, these should come relatively close to each other which means there is a lot of work to be done in development, bid preparation, and – once bids are won – in real project preparation.
So, what happened to the workforce that existed in 2021? It was a nascent sector then, and after a turbulent few years, what resources does Japan have to execute on these goals?