Key facts
- JFE Engineering is the first Japanese company to manufacture monopile foundations for offshore wind farms domestically.
- The Kasaoka Monopile Factory in Okayama Prefecture is Japan's sole manufacturing base for these foundations.
- JFE Engineering has received an order for monopile foundations for the Offshore Wind Power Project Off Oga City, Katagami City, and Akita City.
- The factory utilizes JFE Steel's heavy-gauge steel plates and advanced welding technologies for mass production.
- The Kasaoka facility can produce about 50 large monopiles per year, each weighing approximately 2,500 tons.
JFE Engineering has begun manufacturing monopile foundations for offshore wind farms, marking a significant step for Japan's domestic renewable energy supply chain. The company's new Kasaoka Monopile Factory, which commenced operations on April 1, 2024, is the first and only facility in Japan dedicated to producing these large-scale structures.
This initiative aligns with Japan's national goals to increase domestic content in wind farms to 65% by 2040 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Kasaoka plant utilizes advanced welding technologies and heavy-gauge steel plates from JFE Steel to produce approximately 50 ultra-large monopiles annually, each weighing around 2,500 tons. These foundations are crucial for anchoring offshore wind turbines to the seabed.
JFE Engineering has secured an order from Kajima Corporation for 21 monopiles and transition pieces for the Offshore Wind Power Project Off Oga City, Katagami City, and Akita City. Manufacturing for this project is slated to run from January 2026 to March 2027. The company also plans to expand its capabilities to include jacket-type foundations, aiming for a full lineup of domestically produced fixed-bottom foundations to support the rapidly growing offshore wind power sector and contribute to carbon neutrality.