Japan's 450 MW Akita offshore wind project clears conformity hurdle as Siemens Gamesa locks in supply role
The Oga-Katagami-Akita project's certification advances Japan's fixed-bottom buildout, with Siemens Gamesa turbines displacing Chinese rivals in key contracts.
Bureau Veritas Japan has issued a certificate of conformity for the 450 MW Oga-Katagami-Akita offshore wind project in Akita Prefecture, clearing a key regulatory milestone for a development that targets commercial operations by June 2028.6
The certification matters because it keeps the project on a fixed schedule: construction begins April 2028 across roughly 42 square kilometres, with 30 Siemens Gamesa turbines of 15 MW each expected to spin up by June 2030. That timeline makes it one of Japan's more advanced fixed-bottom projects, and a test of whether the country can deliver offshore wind at scale.6
The conformity certificate is administrative but consequential. Bureau Veritas's sign-off confirms the design meets Japanese technical standards, which developers have cited as a recurring bottleneck in a market that has repeatedly slipped on commissioning dates. Getting this step done two years ahead of construction leaves room for the supply-chain and marine-works stages that have tripped up earlier Japanese projects.6
DEME, through its joint venture Japan Offshore Marine, has already secured the installation contract. The award covers 21 turbines, suggesting a phased installation campaign across 2028 and 2029.4
The Siemens Gamesa selection is the more notable signal. It comes as Chinese turbine makers push hard into European and Asian markets, and after German developer Luxcara cancelled a turbine agreement with Ming Yang for its 300 MW Waterkant offshore project in favour of Siemens Gamesa units. Japanese project owners are making the same choice, prioritising established European supply chains over cost.3
Japan's offshore ambitions remain modest compared with its neighbours. The country had 6.43 GW of installed wind capacity as of the latest count, dwarfed by China's buildout and by the scale of what Europe is planning. But the pipeline is growing, and the Akita project anchors a region that Japan's government has designated as critical national energy-security infrastructure.5
The economics of Japanese offshore wind still face headwinds. Fifteen years after Fukushima, Japan's latest energy plan targets renewables at 40-50% of electricity generation by 2040, up from around 25% last year. Independent researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimate Japan could reliably run on 70% renewables, but the gap between the official target and the practical buildout remains wide.1
The conformity certificate does not solve the cost question. Fixed-bottom projects in Japan carry higher installation expenses than comparable European sites, partly because of seabed conditions and partly because the domestic supply chain is still maturing. With fewer than 30 utility-scale offshore turbines installed to date, contractors are learning on the job.5
What the certification does is lock in a delivery window. The June 2028 commercial operations date, if held, would give Japan its first large fixed-bottom array in Akita Prefecture and establish a reference point for the auction rounds that follow. Developers and lenders have been waiting for proof that Japanese projects can clear regulatory hurdles on schedule.6
The supplier choice also carries a geopolitical undertone. Japan sits in the middle of a global contest between European turbine makers and Chinese entrants. Wood Mackenzie data show Chinese manufacturers added 9 GW of overseas turbine capacity in 2025, up from just 2 GW in 2024 and 1 GW in 2023. European and Japanese project owners are increasingly choosing Siemens Gamesa and Vestas over cheaper Chinese alternatives, and the Akita project is the latest example.2
Chinese overcapacity is not going away. Bruegel figures show China produced 99 GW of turbine capacity in 2024 but installed only 87 GW, and Chinese operating margins have fallen from 18% in 2021 to 10% in 2024. That pressure will keep Chinese vendors aggressive on price, which means every non-Chinese turbine contract carries an implicit premium.2
Ming Yang, the most visible Chinese challenger, has responded by deepening its European presence, joining Norway's offshore wind cluster after the UK blocked its planned £1.5 billion turbine factory near Ardersier. Norway's 30 GW offshore target by 2040 offers a large opening, but the Waterkant cancellation shows how quickly European buyers can switch suppliers when security concerns surface.3
For Japan, the Akita project's certification is a small but concrete step. The real test comes in 2028, when the first turbines go into the water and the country discovers whether its installation fleet and grid connections can handle a project of this size. Until then, the conformity certificate is paper assurance, not proof of delivery.6