Taisei Brings OWC Onboard Japan’s Floating Offshore Wind Plans

November 5, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Renewable energy consultancy OWC has been awarded a master services agreement by Taisei Corporation to provide support for the development of a floating offshore wind project in Japan.

According to the UK-based company, Taisei acknowledges various challenges associated with developing concrete floaters, including engineering, manufacturing methods, loading out, or operation and maintenance, which OWC will support under the two-year master service agreement on a request basis.

The two companies will cooperate to assist in the deployment of floating offshore wind in Japan to meet the country’s ambitious carbon neutrality by 2050 target and contribute to the development of 30 GW to 45 GW of offshore wind power by 2040.

“We will support Taisei in demonstrating the advantages of concrete floaters, which are vital to scaling floating wind power in Japan”, said Masataka Nakagawa, OWC’s floating wind team leader in Japan.

Taisei, recently chosen by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for a new development project, is working on a compact semi-submersible concrete floater. This next-generation technology aims to reduce costs and enhance the domestic supply chain.

Last month, the company signed a non-exclusive memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Acteon to collaborate on floating offshore wind projects in Japan by utilising each other’s skills and services.