The UK and Japan have formally signed the UK-Japan offshore wind compact to expand cooperation on floating and deepwater wind technology, supply chains and investment, with the UK targeting up to £9 billion in potential Japanese investment.
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks and Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takagi Kei signed the agreement on 10 November 2026.
The UK-Japan Offshore Wind Industrial Compact establishes a framework for joint investment, technology demonstration, supply chain development and the exchange of offshore wind policy and regulatory expertise.
A central element of the agreement is cooperation on floating foundations and the technologies needed to deploy offshore wind farms in deeper waters.
The two countries intend to coordinate research and demonstration activities involving foundation substructures, with discussions covering technical improvements, operational experience and potential standardisation. They will also explore collaboration in subsea engineering, robotics and digitalisation.
Research cooperation will involve organisations including the UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Japan’s Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association.
Another priority is the development of offshore wind supply chains, particularly turbine manufacturing. The agreement supports industry efforts to adapt technologies developed for fixed-bottom offshore wind installations for use in floating projects.
The signing formalises a cooperation framework outlined by the UK government in June 2026, when it identified up to £9 billion in potential Japanese investment supporting the development of 5.9 GW of floating offshore wind projects in Britain.
The identified developments include Ossian and Green Volt in the North Sea and Erebus in the Celtic Sea. Japanese companies hold interests in these projects.
The UK government estimates that the wider 5.9 GW floating offshore wind development pipeline could generate enough electricity to supply eight million homes once completed.
Under the compact, both countries will explore further joint investment opportunities involving UK and Japanese developers, financial institutions and Great British Energy.
The agreement also provides for cooperation on offshore wind financing, market frameworks, regulation, grid integration, technical standards and workforce development.
The UK will share its experience in offshore wind market design and project delivery to support Japan’s domestic offshore wind industry, while both countries seek to strengthen industrial participation in their respective markets.
Implementation will be coordinated by Great British Energy and the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, alongside Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The two sides plan to hold regular discussions, including annual meetings at director level, potentially through the existing UK-Japan Energy and Climate Dialogue.
The compact follows a memorandum of cooperation signed in March 2025 and further bilateral discussions in February 2026.
The agreement establishes a framework for future cooperation. It does not itself constitute final investment decisions, confirmed project construction commitments or new offshore installation contracts.
