On 27 May, the Embassy of Belgium in Tokyo organized an event to highlight Belgium's pioneering role in offshore wind energy. The event brought together companies, researchers, and government agencies from Japan and Belgium to learn more about how Belgian expertise can support Japan’s new ambitions in offshore wind energy.
The various speakers each highlighted a different aspect of the offshore sector in Belgium. The Belgian Ministry of Economy spoke about the historical development of offshore wind in the Belgian North Sea and future tenders, while Flanders Investment and Trade Japan presented Belgian industrial expertise. These presentations were followed by interventions from the private sector. Nathalie Oosterlinck, CEO of the newly created Japanese energy company JERA NEX, spoke about JERA's green energy ambitions and its presence in Belgium through the acquisition of developer Parkwind. Elia’s CEO Catherine Vandenborre presented the Princess Elisabeth energy island, the new flagship project of the Belgian offshore industry.
The reception after the seminar gave Japanese companies the opportunity to network with Belgian companies present in Tokyo. Belgium’s experience in offshore has attracted interest from Japanese companies. Japanese trading houses have taken stakes in several Belgian offshore farms, while JERA acquired developer Parkwind in 2023. Belgian firms, meanwhile, are exploring prospects for offshore projects in Japan.
Source: Embassy of Belgium in Japan
Published: June 2024