Penta-Ocean and DEME establish JV to develop Japan's offshore wind industry

In Japan, aiming for the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050, the Japanese government has set targets for the development of 10 GW of offshore wind power by 2030 and 30-45 GW by 2040.

In accordance with Act of Promoting Utilisation of Sea Areas for Renewable Energies, the public tender for the selection of developers has begun in the 1st round promotion zones in the general sea area, and the clarification of the government's target is expected to accelerate the construction of offshore wind farms.

In March 2020, Penta-Ocean and DEME Offshore signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in the field of offshore wind power construction in Japan, and have been promoting technological exchanges. The two companies have agreed to establish a joint venture company by June this year. The investment ratio will be 51% by Penta-Ocean and 49% by DEME Offshore.

The new company will own a foreign-flagged offshore installation vessel upgraded to the one equipped with a 1,600t lifting capacity crane, which will be changed to a Japanese-flagged vessel by the spring of 2025. As a result, Penta-Ocean will own three offshore installation vessels, including CP-8001, a vessel equipped with an 800t crane completed in 2019, and CP-16001, a vessel equipped with a 1,600t crane that is currently under construction jointly with Kajima Corporation and Yorigami Maritime Construction Co., Ltd.

Niels van Berlaer, Business Unit Director Asia-Pacific DEME Offshore, comments:

“These complex conditions often mean that drilling expertise is necessary at offshore wind farm locations. But both companies have these skills in-house, given their dredging activities. By bringing these two leading companies together, we believe we can make a significant contribution to the long-term development of the offshore wind sector in Japan. Demonstrating our confidence in the vast potential of the Japanese market, and our willingness to support the sector, we are also considering bringing DEME Offshore equipment into Japan.”

Tetsunori Ohshimo, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Head of Offshore Wind Farm Business Division Group, Penta-Ocean, emphasises:

“The new JV company will be a leading specialised offshore marine engineering contractor in Japan, combining our extensive experience and advanced technologies both in Europe and Japan. I am confident that the collaboration between the two companies will contribute greatly to the construction of offshore wind farms and we have the capabilities needed to tackle Japan’s challenging metocean and seismic conditions, as well as the complex seabed conditions.”