On March 25, a public-private consortium* led by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha installed the world’s first offshore floating data center (DC) at Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama Port and launched demonstration experiments for practical deployment. Demand for data centers is increasing amid the rapid spread and expansion of generative AI and cloud services. However, large-scale data centers face multiple challenges, including the need to secure vast amounts of power and ensure disaster resilience, as well as issues related to noise, visual impact, and escalating construction costs. The demonstration seeks to address these issues by deploying a containerized data center equipped with a solar power system on a floating berthing facility (mini-float).

While the experiment currently uses a solar power system, it envisions future synergies with offshore wind power. According to a press release issued by Nippon Yusen on March 27 last year, “The project plans to locate floating data centers near offshore wind farms, thereby realizing green data centers that can operate without relying on or being limited by onshore power grids, thus contributing to both global environmental preservation and the growth of digital infrastructure.”

Offshore wind power is considered a “key driver in Japan’s Strategic Energy Plan in promoting renewables as a primary energy source,” with a target of achieving capacity equivalent to 30–40 nuclear reactors by fiscal 2040. Currently, 30 offshore areas have been designated as candidate sites, and developers are being selected through public bidding on a rolling basis. However, the offshore wind projects have not progressed smoothly. Notably, a consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation, which won the first round of government auctions for two areas in Akita Prefecture and one off the coast of Chiba, has announced its withdrawal from the projects due to rising costs.
Japan, surrounded by the sea, has enormous “offshore” potential. Expanding data center infrastructure and improving energy self-sufficiency—both fundamental to innovation—are essential to economic security. Investment in this field should therefore be accelerated as a top priority in Japan’s growth strategy.

As a side note, some of you may remember the “GREEN FLOAT” future city concept presented by Shimizu Corporation in 2008. It envisioned an eco-friendly floating city with a residential zone for 40,000 people, featuring zero carbon emissions, food self-sufficiency, and no waste output. I had the opportunity to take part in several study groups related to the project, and what particularly fascinated me was that the city was designed to be floating rather than fixed. Wondering what had become of it, I visited the company’s website and found a press release noting that Shimizu Corporation was “the only Asian company to join” the Floating Future consortium, a research project started in the Netherlands in 2024. I was genuinely delighted to learn that the initiative is still ongoing.

* The consortium includes Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, NTT FACIITIES,INC., Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation, MUFG Bank, Ltd., and the city of Yokohama.

Takashi Mizukoshi, the President
This Week’s Focus, March 22–26, 2026