As countries around the world accelerate efforts to achieve net-zero emissions, offshore wind is emerging as a key contributor to the energy transition. In Asia, wind power accounts for almost 40% of the world's CHF 6 trillion power generation project pipeline, according to GlobalData, reflecting its growing importance in the decarbonization journey. For Japan, offshore wind offers a strategic opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen energy security, and build a more sustainable energy system. Projects such as Ishikari Bay and Hibikinada are helping turn these ambitions into reality.
Japan’s Offshore Breakthrough: Ishikari Bay and Hibikinada
Ishikari Bay – the pioneer
On the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan’s offshore wind industry began in earnest with the Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm – the country’s first large wind turbine generator project. It was developed by Green Power Investment, with construction undertaken by Nippon Steel Engineering, the 112-megawatt installation combines 14 turbines with a 180-megawatt-hour battery system to ensure a stable power supply even in variable wind conditions. Designed to withstand both earthquakes and typhoons, the project represents a milestone in Japan’s renewable ambitions.
Sika’s role extended from the early design phase through to quality control and construction. The company supplied offshore grouting materials and on-site technical support to ensure reliable installation. A key advantage was rapid-strength performance, which shortened curing times from the usual four weeks to just about a week, keeping the schedule on track despite Japan’s brief summer construction season.
Executing such a complex build in Japan’s northern climate posed additional hurdles. With construction restricted to a short summer window, every week counted. Further challenges followed when the imported mixing equipment and key materials were delayed by customs. Working closely with international colleagues, Sika’s local team coordinated testing, training, and equipment adjustments to maintain momentum. The project now powers around 83,000 homes and avoids more than 200,000 tons of CO2 annually, setting a new benchmark for collaboration and reliability in Japan’s offshore market.
Sika was not just a supplier, but a trusted partner from start to finish." Kazuho Morishita
Hibikinada – scaling with confidence
If Ishikari Bay was Japan’s first step offshore, Hibikinada – the country’s largest offshore wind project to date – was its leap forward. Located off Kitakyushu in southern Japan, the site spans 27 million square meters and represents an almost CHF 1 billion investment.
Many grouting applicators were still new to offshore work. Drawing on six years of preparation and training, Sika bridged that experience gap, combining local capability with guidance from Sika Malaysia’s seasoned off-shore supervisors. “Sika stood out as the best choice overall, considering the extensive collab-oration involved. Our top priority was how to manage summer construction, and Sika worked with us to test and supply the right materials, which was a tremendous help for our company,” explains Yuichiro Yamaguchi, Project Director for the Hibikinada project at Penta-Ocean Construction.
Sika stood out as the best choice overall, considering the extensive collaboration involved." Yuichiro Yamaguchi
Advanced offshore grouting technology again played a decisive role, offering consistent performance over long pumping distances and helping to reduce vessel time. As turbine sizes increased, Sika developed higher-output equipment to meet the demand for faster installation.
A dual-vessel installation approach led by Penta-Ocean Construction allowed one ship to grout while the other reloaded onshore, keeping operations continuous even in tight weather windows. “We completed construction without a single problem. It was thanks to everyone’s cooperation that this project was able to proceed exactly as planned and on schedule,” says Yamaguchi.
Together, the two projects prevent more than 470,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year. They have also established Sika Japan as a trusted partner in offshore construction, laying the foundations – both in a technical and relational sense – for the country’s next generation of renewable projects. “With Ishikari and Hibikinada, almost everything was new for Japan’s offshore industry,” says Rikuya Tan of Sika Japan. “But those firsts taught us how to turn experience into confidence.”
Building Trust, Delivering Solutions
From Japan’s first commercial installations to China’s pioneering floating platform, these projects mark a turning point for Asia’s renewable energy landscape. Each demanded more than technical excellence: they required trust, adaptability, and collaboration across borders. They also show that building for the future means building for endurance, combining material performance with human collaboration. As offshore wind expands across Asia, the lessons learned from these pioneering ventures will continue to shape the region’s sustainable energy journey.