# UK and Japan Sign Offshore Wind Industrial Compact to Deepen Cooperation The agreement targets joint investment and technology development for floating and deepwater wind projects. - **Source:** [offshoreWIND.biz](https://www.offshorewind.biz) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6f95281c-a598-4876-a2b8-358a3109e750 ## Formalizing Bilateral Energy Ties The United Kingdom and Japan officially signed an Offshore Wind Industrial Compact on 10 November. This agreement, signed by Michael Shanks and Takagi Kei, aims to deepen cooperation on fixed-bottom and floating wind energy. It builds upon a previous memorandum signed in March 2025 to strengthen industrial delivery and supply chains. ## Four Pillars of Cooperation The compact outlines four specific areas for collaboration between the two nations. These include co-investment in offshore projects, testing of floating wind technologies, development of resilient supply chains, and the exchange of regulatory expertise. Both governments intend to support project deployment and reduce costs through these structured bilateral initiatives and frameworks. ## Investment and Project Deployment Under the investment pillar, the agreement encourages joint initiatives between UK developers, Great British Energy, and Japanese financial institutions. This collaboration is designed to support the scaling of offshore wind projects in both countries. By aligning commercial interests, the nations seek to strengthen industrial delivery, particularly for complex floating and deepwater wind. ## Technological Research and Innovation The partnership focuses on testing and demonstration activities for floating wind foundations and enabling systems. This effort builds on existing collaboration between Japan's Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association and the UK's Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. Future work will specifically explore subsea engineering, robotics, and the digitalization of offshore wind infrastructure. ## Supply Chain and Component Security Cooperation on supply chains will prioritize the development of secure and diversified sources for critical equipment, with a specific focus on wind turbines. The two sides are also working to adapt existing fixed-bottom offshore wind technologies for floating applications. This strategy aims to enhance the overall resilience of the global wind energy market. ## Policy and Market Frameworks The UK will share expertise to assist in the development of Japan's offshore wind market. Identified areas for knowledge exchange include project financing, grid operation, and system integration. Furthermore, the countries will collaborate on establishing regulatory standards and certification processes to ensure consistent safety and performance across both national energy sectors. ## Building on Previous Milestones This compact follows a March 2025 memorandum that established the initial framework for bilateral cooperation. Since then, the countries have conducted workshops on auction systems and testing facilities. Japanese companies have already participated in UK floating wind projects during recent contracts for difference rounds, demonstrating the existing momentum in commercial cooperation. ## Implementation and Future Governance Implementation will be led by Great British Energy and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in the UK, alongside METI in Japan. The framework mandates annual director-level discussions to track progress. This governance structure ensures that the partnership remains aligned with the broader UK-Japan Energy and Climate Dialogue objectives. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.offshorewind.biz/2026/11/11/uk-and-japan-sign-offshore-wind-industrial-compact-to-deepen-cooperation — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._