Japanese industry ministry and Siemens Gamesa forge wind power partnership
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has signed a landmark agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to establish a comprehensive framework for public-private cooperation in offshore wind power development. The partnership, announced on Tuesday in Tokyo, aims to build robust local supply chains for Japan's expanding renewable energy sector.
The collaboration addresses a critical gap in Japan's energy infrastructure, as the nation currently lacks domestic wind turbine manufacturers. The ministry official overseeing wind power development explained that the initiative seeks to foster partnerships with established global players to develop indigenous supply chain capabilities.
A significant component of the agreement involves Siemens Gamesa, the wind turbine division of Siemens Energy, entering into a memorandum of understanding with Japanese electronics manufacturer TDK. Under this arrangement, TDK will supply permanent magnets for Siemens Gamesa's wind turbines, marking an important step towards localising component production.
This partnership follows similar initiatives by Japan's industry ministry. Earlier this month, METI signed a comparable agreement with GE Vernova, a major American energy equipment company, to promote public-private cooperation across wind power, hydrogen, and ammonia sectors.
Offshore wind power represents a cornerstone of Japan's renewable energy strategy, yet the country remains heavily dependent on imported turbines and components. This reliance poses significant challenges to establishing domestic production capabilities and achieving energy security objectives.
Japan has set an ambitious target of 45 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, a goal essential for reducing the nation's dependence on imported coal and gas for electricity generation. However, these plans have encountered substantial obstacles following three major auction rounds, with projects experiencing considerable cost escalations and implementation delays.
Recent data from Japan Wind Power Association highlights just how far Japan has to go. In 2024, Japan added approximately 670 MW of new wind capacity, up from 480 MW in 2023 and 510 MW in 2020. While this upward trend is promising, the figures also show how modest the scale remains compared to national ambitions.
The government's strategic focus on developing local supply chains reflects broader concerns about energy security and industrial competitiveness. By partnering with established international manufacturers like Siemens Gamesa, Japan hopes to accelerate technology transfer whilst building domestic expertise in offshore wind development.
The agreements signed in Tokyo represent a pragmatic approach to addressing Japan's renewable energy challenges, combining international expertise with local manufacturing capabilities to advance the nation's clean energy transition.
