Floating wind could open up substantial new areas for renewable generation, but realising that potential will require advances throughout the supply chain. The companies best placed to benefit will be those that solve the practical challenges of deployment and protect their advances with the right intellectual property strategy.
By Lawrence Paleschi, Senior Associate Patent Attorney, Carpmaels & Ransford LLP
Japan’s Industry Ministry has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Siemens Energy to jointly promote floating offshore wind power projects in Japan.
Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has opened consultation on a draft amendment to the Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG).
China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have presented the country’s new five-year renewable energy plan for 2026-2030. Both institutions anticipate that the Chinese renewable energy industry will grow and show improved operational quality.
Japan is planning to build what could become the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm, a 1 GW project off the Izu Islands to power the island chain and Tokyo, to be operational by 2035.
Vestas Wind Systems has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Japan’s Ministry of Energy, Trade, and Industry (METI) to build a plant in Japan by fiscal 2029 to assemble wind turbine nacelles.
The European Commission has announced that it has approved a €1.1 billion French state aid scheme aimed at supporting strategic investments in clean technology manufacturing capacity in line with the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal objectives.
The US state os Massachusetts is looking to import renewable energy from the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Massachusetts faces a growing need for electrical and a desire to expand its use of renewable energy, especially offshore wind power.
The UK Government has announced that its latest auction for offshore wind, Contracts for Difference AR7, has secured 8.4 GW.
Ørsted has announced that the Irish government has awarded rights to develop a 900 MW offshore wind farm to a joint venture between it and Irish utility ESB.