Linklaters Advises Ørsted on Japanese Offshore Wind Venture

Global law firm Linklaters has advised Ørsted on the strategic partnership with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to establish a joint venture company, Choshi Offshore Wind Farm K.K., in Japan.

The special purpose company has been established with the intention to bid for the expected public auction for an offshore wind power project in Choshi area, Chiba prefecture.

The establishment of Choshi Offshore Wind Farm K.K. for the bid formalises the relationship between Ørsted and TEPCO, having previously signed a memorandum of Understanding in January 2019.

Choshi is one of the four potential promotion areas selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in July 2019.

If successful in the auctions, this project will be the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in Japan for both Ørsted and TEPCO.

John Maxwell, Partner, and Head of Asia Energy & Infrastructure at Linklaters, siad: “The Linklaters international team is delighted to have been able to support Ørsted’s strategic partnership in Japan, continuing from our previous work on the first commercial scale offshore wind farm in Japan. This also builds on our recent activity in Taiwan and across other Asia renewables markets.”

In September 2019, TEPCO revealed plans to build a 370MW wind farm offshore Choshi City at an area of some 39 square kilometres located approximately 1.2 kilometres offshore.