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Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd.
Takuzo Shimizu, President, CEO and Representative Director

Tokyo, Japan - April 22, 2026 -Penta-Ocean Construction (President, Takuzo Shimizu) and National University Corporation, the University of Tokyo (President, Teruo Fujii) have signed an agreement to establish a Social Cooperation Program on Innovation for Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Floating Offshore Wind Energy System within the UTokyo International Collaborative Research Organization on Floating Offshore Wind Energy and Related Technologies. The program is scheduled to run for approximately five years, from May 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031.

With the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the Japanese government positions offshore wind as a key pillar in making renewable energy the nation’s primary power source. To this end, it has set a target of developing 30–45 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040.
Given Japan’s limited shallow coastal areas, floating offshore wind is attracting increasing attention, and a target of at least 15 GW has been set. Even assuming the deployment of large-scale turbines in the 15–20 MW class, which are expected to become the future industry standard, achieving this target will require a massive undertaking, involving the installation of approximately 750 units (with 20 MW turbines) to over 1,000 units (with 15 MW turbines).

However, unlike Europe, Japan must contend with severe natural conditions, including strong winds and storm surges caused by typhoons, as well as earthquakes and tsunamis, in addition to complex seabed conditions characterized by steep topography and diverse geological features. These factors present significant technical challenges. Furthermore, in order to maximize the use of limited port infrastructure and work vessels, and to enable the safe, reliable and rapid deployment of a large number of units, it is essential to establish a rational and efficient construction system tailored to Japan’s specific conditions.

Scientific and systematic approaches provide an effective pathway to overcoming the uncertainties in a nascent industry, as well as Japan’s uniquely severe environmental conditions, and to realizing renewable energy as a primary power source. Based on this recognition, the newly established Social Cooperation Program brings together the intellectual and technical strengths of academia and industry. It will promote R&D initiatives and cultivate highly skilled professionals, in design, construction, and stable operation, focusing on the following three themes:

(Theme 1)	System design to enhance overall construction efficiency and resilience, taking into account metocean conditions in Japanese waters
(Theme 2)	Optimal floating structure design based on an integrated perspective from construction through operation
(Theme 3)	Development of a digital twin model of metocean conditions in Japanese waters

These three research themes are closely aligned with the initiatives of the Floating Offshore Wind Construction System Technology Research Association (FLOWCON), approved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), in which we participate as a member. Through collaboration with the University of Tokyo, we will advance research on the rationalization of construction methods and the sophistication of operations for floating offshore wind. By promptly sharing cutting-edge research outcomes not only within our company but across the broader industry, we aim to contribute to the establishment of a rational construction system for the large-scale deployment of floating offshore wind, as well as the development of human resources in both academia and industry.

As a front runner in offshore wind construction, we will continue to promote both bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind power with a pioneering spirit, which is our corporate DNA.