Vestas and Japan's METI agree on local wind turbine nacelle assembly
Vestas signed a cooperation memorandum with Japan's Ministry of Economy to localize nacelle assembly, with a first milestone set for fiscal year 2029 and complete deployment by 2039.
| Companies | Nippon Express Co., Ltd., DENZAI Co., Ltd. |
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Vestas signed a cooperation memorandum with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to develop local manufacturing of wind energy equipment. The Danish manufacturer has also concluded memoranda of understanding with Nippon Express Co., Ltd. and DENZAI Co., Ltd. to strengthen the local supply chain. These agreements aim to consolidate Vestas' industrial presence in the archipelago.
A conditional two-phase assembly timeline
According to the agreement signed with METI, Vestas aims to conduct final nacelle assembly in Japan by fiscal year 2029, subject to securing firm orders through Japan's offshore wind tender processes. The manufacturer also intends to develop a roadmap to achieve full nacelle assembly in Japan by fiscal year 2039. This second phase would depend on sustained growth in the offshore wind market, sufficient order volume, and better-defined long-term tender plans. Raphael Huot, Vestas vice president and country director for Japan, said these partnerships support Japan's ambitions for energy security and wind deployment.
With Nippon Express, Vestas will explore collaborations on logistics and operations and maintenance services for wind energy projects. The agreement with DENZAI covers engineering services, including crane planning, crane positioning, crane supply, and wind installation construction. These two memoranda aim to integrate more local expertise into the manufacturer's operations in Japan.
An established presence for over three decades
Vestas said it has installed more than 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity in Japan since 1993, including offshore projects at the ports of Akita and Noshiro as well as the Kitakyushu Hibikinada offshore wind farm. The company currently provides operations and maintenance services for 1.2 GW. It has an additional 685 megawatts (MW) under construction.
The commitments made under these agreements remain conditional on market developments and tender timing. Achieving full nacelle assembly in Japan by 2039 requires sustained growth in the offshore wind market and sufficient orders to justify the necessary industrial investments.
