Equinor, the Norwegian energy giant, has decided to close its offshore wind operations in Japan, shutting its Tokyo office by the end of the year. Despite being present on the Japanese market since 2018, the company failed to win any lease agreements in recent auctions. Meanwhile, its offshore wind projects in Poland are already under construction, with the first monopiles installed in May 2026.
The move is part of a broader strategic review by Equinor, which has also pulled out of Vietnam, Spain, Portugal and France. The company cited rising costs and supply chain constraints affecting offshore wind projects worldwide. In Japan, the withdrawal follows similar exits by other developers, including Orsted in 2024 and Mitsubishi-led consortia in 2025, all struggling with mounting expenses.
– This decision reflects Equinor’s reassessment of its strategic direction with increased focus on integrated energy markets – the company said in a statement. Equinor has also scaled back its 2030 renewable energy capacity target and abandoned a floating offshore wind project off South Korea. However, it remains a partner in the Donghae 1 project and is still evaluating its presence in South Korea.
Strategic shift away from pure renewables
Equinor’s core business remains oil and gas extraction, but it is now prioritizing integrated energy operations that combine renewables with gas-fired generation and other sources. The company abandoned its standalone renewable capacity goal on June 16 and is focusing on markets where it can build fully integrated energy systems. This explains why it continues to invest in the North Sea’s Dogger Bank – the world’s largest offshore wind farm at 3.6 GW – while exiting more fragmented markets like Japan.
The Japanese government’s efforts to reduce energy import dependence are hampered by high costs and project cancellations. JERA, the country’s largest power producer, started building an offshore wind farm in Akita this year, but overall progress remains slow. Equinor’s exit adds to the challenges facing Japan’s offshore wind ambitions.
Polish offshore projects moving forward
In contrast, Equinor’s Polish offshore wind projects are advancing rapidly. The company is a technology partner of Polenergia in building three Baltic Sea wind farms: Baltyk I, II and III. Construction of Baltyk II and III began on May 1, 2026.
– Within a month we installed about 30 monopile foundations with transition pieces. We have the installation fleet available until the end of September. So far the campaign is proceeding according to plan and soon we will be at the halfway point – said Grzegorz Kotte, advisor to the board at Polenergia for offshore wind farms. The two farms will have a combined capacity of about 1.5 GW and a total cost estimated at PLN 27 billion (excluding financing costs). The contracted price under the CfD scheme is PLN 481 per MWh.
Equinor also resolved a dispute with the Trump administration over the Empire Wind project off the US coast. In January 2026, a US court allowed the company to continue building the farm that will supply electricity to New York. This shows that despite global challenges, Equinor is still betting on key offshore wind markets, and Poland is one of them.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock
