Japan’s offshore wind capacity to reach breach 16 GW by 2035

This technology will help diversify the country’s power mix.

The offshore wind capacity in Japan is projected to grow to 16.7 gigawatts by 2035 from 59 megawatts in 2020.

According to GlobalData’s latest report, “Japan Power Market Trends and Analysis by Capacity, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Regulations, Key Players and Forecast to 2035,”  offshore wind is expected to be one of the fastest-growing technologies in Japan’s generation portfolio.

“This rapid scale-up is expected to play a central role in diversifying its power mix and achieving the government’s renewable energy targets,” GlobalData said.

GlobalData said this expansion is being fuelled by government-backed auctions, regulatory reforms, and investment in port infrastructure.

Mohammed Ziauddin, power analyst at GlobalData, also noted that the “Japanese government has already identified offshore wind as a strategic growth area, with dedicated tenders and regulatory reforms to accelerate project development.”

Japan’s Sixth Basic Energy Plan targets increasing the share of renewables to 36% to 38% of the power mix by 2030, with offshore wind contributing a sizeable share.

“The expansion of offshore wind, alongside growth in solar PV and hydrogen, highlights Japan’s commitment to reshaping its power sector,” Zia said.

“However, challenges remain in terms of grid upgrades, financing, and regulatory streamlining. If these are addressed, Japan is well-positioned to balance energy security, affordability, and decarbonization as it transitions towards its net-zero target,” the expert added.