BP has struck a deal with Tokyo-based conglomerate Marubeni to explore what is described as "a selected offshore wind development opportunity in Japan."

The two players have agreed to form a strategic partnership for offshore wind and, potentially, other decarbonisation projects, including hydrogen.

As part of their agreement, BP will join Marubeni on working up a development plan for an unnamed offshore wind project, purchasing a 49% stake in the proposed joint venture development.

The UK supermajor described Japan's offshore as an area of "exceptional wind resource."

BP said the two companies see this initial arrangement as a first step towards building a market-leading offshore wind position in Japan.

Associated with this agreement, BP will establish a local offshore wind development team in Tokyo.

Japan aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 and has set a target of deploying 10GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 30GW-45GW by 2040.

Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, BP’s executive vice president of gas & low carbon energy, said: “Combining our international energy expertise and technical capabilities with Marubeni’s track record of wind and energy development and first-class regional relationships, we can together build important new clean energy resources for Japan and Asia."

Marubeni said it was one of the first developers to participate in the demonstration of the Fukushima floating wind scheme and also took part in projects offshore Akita and Noshiro ports.

In addition, the company is a part of a consortium that secured seabed leasing rights for the ScotWind project in the UK.