Japan reshapes Hokkaido offshore wind ownership structure

Hokkaido
Offshore Wind Development LLC, jointly owned on a 50:50 basis by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T) and Copenhagen
Infrastructure Partners, was formally wound up with unanimous
approval from its members on December 12, 2025, according to
corporate registry filings reviewed by Japan Energy
Hub.

The
Ministry of the Environment database indicates that the company’s
three schemes, which remain under environmental assessment, were
reassigned on January 20, 2026 to CI V Japan Co A LLC. In an
emailed statement to Japan Energy Hub, a representative
for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries acknowledged the handover but
offered no additional details. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
had not responded by the time of publication.

This
development directly affects Japan’s offshore wind pipeline,
particularly in Hokkaido, where several large scale schemes are
approaching competitive auctions. A shift in ownership at this
phase alters how the projects are funded, structured and advanced,
influencing their route to construction and operation in a market
the government considers pivotal to its long term energy
transition.

According
to Japan Energy Hub, registry documents show that
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and CI V Coöperatief U.A. acted as
Managing Members of Hokkaido Offshore Wind Development. The vehicle
tied to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ fifth flagship fund, CI
V, is recorded as the sole Managing Member of CI V Japan Co
A.

The
portfolio moved to the CI V affiliated entity includes the planned
Hiyama project of up to 1.5GW, located within one of Japan’s newly
designated offshore wind Promotion Zones set to be auctioned. Also
included are the proposed Shimamaki project of up to 585MW and the
Ishikari Bay project of up to 1.1GW, both positioned in Promising
Zones identified as potential candidates for future
tenders.

The
venture began operations in 2019 under the name CI Hokkaido LLC and
was rebranded in November 2020 after Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
joined.

Independently
of its partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries holds a separate 70:30 joint venture
with Vestas, known as MHI Vestas Japan, established in 2021 to
deliver marketing and technical services for the Danish
manufacturer’s turbines in Japan. Until 2020, the two companies co
owned MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, which has since been fully
integrated into Vestas.

In
February 2026, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries entered into a binding
deal to divest its domestic onshore wind engineering and operations
and maintenance business to J-POWER, with completion slated for
April 1, 2026.