The Japanese offshore wind market gained a key asset by completing its first monopile manufacturing base.
JFE Engineering Co., Ltd. recently announced the opening of the country’s first monopile manufacturing plant, “Kasaoka Monopile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.” The plant is located in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture, and will primarily manufacture monopile fixed foundations. The factory’s capacity is comparable to plants in Europe, as it is able to manufacture monopiles up to a diameter of 12 meters and with a length of 100 meters. Bringing this capability to Japan is a turning point for the Japanese market as well as for the APAC region in general. Offshore wind projects in Japan that require monopile foundations previously sourced them from Europe and China; now, going forward, they will be sourced locally.
Image source: JFE Engineering Co., Ltd.
