Offshore Wind in Asia-Pacific: The Results of the Shakeout
From rapid expansion to disciplined delivery
Offshore wind in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is entering a defining phase. Following a period of intense global consolidation across developer pools and project portfolios, the market is rapidly separating reality from speculation. While certain markets possess the structural fundamentals to thrive, others are likely to remain options on paper for many years to come.
For Will Liu, based in AFRY’s Taipei office, this shift of focus from high-level investment theory to practical execution creates a unique opportunity. Having worked both as a developer and a consultant, he brings a dual perspective to how offshore wind projects are originated, developed, and delivered.
There has never been a stronger emphasis on project constructability and delivery. The insights of seasoned advisors who have been “in the trenches” are incredibly valuable to our clients in the region right now.
Emerging Markets: Shaping the Industry from the Ground Up
Unlike Europe, where offshore wind has developed for over three decades, most APAC markets are still considered emerging. With its first commercial-scale wind farm, Formosa 1, inaugurated in 2019, Taiwan is widely considered the pioneer of large-scale offshore wind in Asia outside of China. Meanwhile, markets such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Australia are gaining (back) momentum in 2026.
"Working in the offshore wind sector in the APAC region means you are not just delivering projects; you are actively shaping a new industry from the ground up," Will notes.
The Philippines, in particular, stands out for Will as one of the more active markets today. The upcoming GEA-5 auction, the country’s first round dedicated exclusively to offshore wind, has been attracting significant interest. In the Southern Hemisphere, Australia has regained some momentum, with the Victorian government officially scheduling its first 2 GW offshore wind auction for the Gippsland region to open in August 2026.
Europe vs. Asia: Different Stages, Different Opportunities
Having worked in both regions, Will highlights key fundamental differences in project focus. Mature European markets, particularly those in the North Sea, now place great emphasis on integrating offshore wind more effectively into existing power supply systems and building ecologically sustainable wind farms. In addition, the markets are seeing some pioneering efforts in technological advancement and digitalization throughout the lifecycle of a wind farm.
Conversely, the APAC region focuses on building baseline capabilities, establishing domestic and regional supply chains, and creating the political and economic environments that are required to establish offshore wind as an energy necessity rather than just an investment tool – all in a much more condensed timeline than its European counterpart experienced.
This structural divide creates a distinct opportunity for global advisors like AFRY.
"We can transfer established European expertise and innovation and adapt it to APAC’s unique market conditions," Will concludes. "At the same time, the relatively faster pace of project build-out in APAC means we are rapidly accumulating local insights and lessons learned, which in turn feed back into our global competence and technical database."
A “Glocal” advantage
AFRY’s approach to offshore wind is built on a simple but powerful model: combining deep global expertise with an active, on-the-ground local presence.
Because offshore wind development in Europe began decades ahead of Asia, it has produced an abundance pool of technical experience and operational lessons. By seamlessly connecting this European heritage with our engineering and advisory teams across the APAC region, AFRY brings proven knowledge directly into emerging APAC markets.
Equally important is the proximity of our APAC experts to the projects and the people driving them. AFRY’s APAC offshore wind consultants are among those who contributed to many of the first projects in the region. Being in the same time zone, understanding local regulatory nuances, and maintaining established relationships within the regional developer community allow us to collaborate far more effectively. This "glocal" framework ensures our clients get world-class technical insights delivered with the agility and responsiveness of a local partner.
China: a growing influence
One of the most important structural shifts in the offshore wind sector in recent years is the increasing integration of the Chinese supply chain into global projects. Chinese suppliers are expanding rapidly beyond their domestic market, offering highly competitive pricing alongside increasingly better understood technical capabilities. This presence is already reshaping project economics and procurement strategies in both Asian and European markets.
AFRY’s long-standing footprint in Asia positions the company uniquely in this evolving landscape. With deep, established relationships across both local and international stakeholders, AFRY is well-equipped to navigate these shifting dynamics.
“We are increasingly acting as a bridge, connecting different parts of the value chain across regions,” Will explains.
Why offshore wind still excites
For Will, the motivation behind working in this sector remains clear.
Few industries offer the chance to deliver infrastructure of this scale, projects worth billions that you can see when you fly over the coastlines.
Beyond the sheer physical and financial scale of the assets, it is the opportunity to shape emerging markets that makes the work meaningful. From designing initial regulatory frameworks to overcoming complex project delivery hurdles, the rules of offshore wind in Asia are still being written.
Looking ahead
As APAC markets continue to evolve, offshore wind will play an increasingly central role in the region’s energy transition.
The combination of strong government ambition, focused international developers, eager local developers, and maturing supply chains suggests that the coming decade will be transformative.
For developers, investors, and policymakers, the focus now shifts past high-level targets. Success will belong to those who exercise commercial discipline and cultivate the practical frameworks needed to materialize these projects, one turbine at a time in the sea.
