ABS and JB Energy Sign Strategic MOU for Port Decarbonization and Decommissioning Strategy of the Aura Sul Wind Project

Partnership will support port decarbonization, offshore wind lifecycle sustainability, and innovative decommissioning strategies for Brazil’s first floating offshore wind demonstration project.

Houston, Texas, USA – May 22nd, 2026 – American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and JB Energy – Japan Blue Energy Co., Ltd. have signed a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on strategic studies for port decarbonization and the future decommissioning of the Raijin Float® platform within the Aura Sul Wind Project, Brazil’s first floating offshore wind demonstration project.

The agreement was signed by Rob Langford, Vice President, Global Offshore Renewables, ABS, and Rodolfo Trentin Gonçalves, Chief Executive Officer of JB Energy.

The partnership establishes a long-term collaboration focused on developing sustainable offshore wind solutions that extend beyond project deployment, incorporating lifecycle thinking, maritime decarbonization, circular economy principles, and long-term offshore asset management.

The Parties recognize that the sustainable development of floating offshore wind requires not only safe design and operation, but also early planning for future decommissioning and the decarbonization of the surrounding maritime industrial ecosystem.

Partnership Highlights

Aura Sul Partnership Summary

Scope of Collaboration

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, ABS will contribute its expertise in:

• Port decarbonization strategies;
• Maritime energy transition;
• Offshore renewable energy integration into port infrastructure;
• Low-carbon port logistics;
• Green fuel opportunities;
• ESG and sustainability frameworks;
• Offshore support vessel strategies;
• Port and shipyard readiness assessments;
• Decommissioning methodologies for floating offshore wind;
• Lifecycle assessment;
• Circular economy strategies;
• Reuse and repurposing of offshore structures.

The collaboration will evaluate how offshore renewable energy can accelerate the decarbonization of the Port of Rio Grande, supporting its transition toward a low-carbon industrial ecosystem connected to Brazil’s future offshore wind supply chain.

A second strategic pillar of the partnership is the development of preliminary decommissioning strategies for the Raijin Float® platform. The studies will assess offshore removal methodologies, towing operations, dismantling concepts, recycling opportunities, circular economy approaches, and innovative reuse concepts for concrete floating offshore wind foundations.

A Strategic Partnership for Brazil’s Energy Transition

Aura Sul Wind is being developed by JB Energy as Brazil’s first floating offshore wind demonstration project, located approximately 65 km offshore from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul.

Beyond demonstrating innovative floating offshore wind technology, the project is designed to establish new benchmarks for sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle of offshore renewable energy developments.

The partnership with ABS expands the project’s international ecosystem into two strategic areas rarely addressed during the early stages of offshore wind development: port decarbonization and end-of-life planning. Both are fundamental to ensuring long-term sustainability, reducing environmental impacts, and increasing project bankability.

“One of the most sustainable offshore wind structures is the one whose entire lifecycle has been considered from day one. Together with ABS, we are integrating port decarbonization, lifecycle thinking, and innovative decommissioning strategies into the Aura Sul Wind Project from its earliest stages. This collaboration will help establish new benchmarks for the sustainable development of floating offshore wind, not only in Brazil but for future projects worldwide.”

Rodolfo Trentin Gonçalves
Chief Executive Officer
JB Energy

“Floating offshore wind development depends on strong regional infrastructure and clear life-cycle planning from the outset. Through this collaboration with JB Energy, ABS will support studies that advance safe, sustainable, and economically viable offshore wind development in Brazil.”

Rob Langford
Vice President, Global Offshore Renewables
ABS

About the Aura Sul Wind Project

The Aura Sul Wind Project is Brazil’s first floating offshore wind demonstration project and one of the most advanced floating offshore wind initiatives under development in Latin America.

At the heart of the project is the Raijin Float®, an innovative concrete semi-submersible floating foundation developed by JB Energy and specifically engineered to support the MySE 18.5 MW offshore wind turbine by Ming Yang Smart Energy in Brazilian waters.

As the project evolves, Aura Sul Wind continues to integrate globally recognized technologies and engineering expertise across every major discipline, including port decarbonization and offshore decommissioning by ABS, environmental and social studies by ARVUT, Geo-data and site characterization by Fugro, offshore power substation technology by Hitachi Energy, and offshore power cable systems by Prysmian. Together, these strategic partnerships are creating a robust and scalable technological ecosystem for the future commercialization of floating offshore wind in Brazil.

The project has already reached a major regulatory milestone with the issuance of the Terms of Reference (TR) by IBAMA, allowing environmental studies and detailed engineering to advance toward Brazil’s environmental licensing process.

Rather than developing a single demonstration project, Aura Sul Wind is building the technological, industrial, environmental, and regulatory foundations for the future of floating offshore wind in Brazil.

About JB Energy

JB Energy is a Japanese engineering and technology company dedicated to advancing floating offshore wind through the development of proprietary technologies and integrated engineering solutions.

The company is the creator of the Raijin Float®, an innovative concrete semi-submersible floating foundation designed for next-generation offshore wind turbines, and the developer and technical leader of the Aura Sul Wind Project, coordinating an international ecosystem of industrial partners, research institutions, and government organizations.

Rather than developing a single offshore wind project, JB Energy is building an open innovation platform that integrates proprietary floating technologies, industrial partnerships, academic research, and regulatory development to accelerate the commercialization of floating offshore wind. By combining technological innovation with long-term international collaboration, JB Energy is helping establish the technical foundations for the next generation of floating offshore wind projects across Japan and Brazil, while contributing to the global advancement of floating offshore wind technologies.

About ABS

ABS is a global leader in classification, certification, and technical assurance services for the marine and offshore energy industries. With extensive expertise in offshore wind, floating offshore technologies, port decarbonization, offshore asset integrity, and lifecycle management, ABS supports the safe, sustainable, and efficient development of offshore renewable energy projects worldwide.

Through its collaboration with JB Energy, ABS will contribute strategic studies on port decarbonization and the lifecycle sustainability of floating offshore wind systems, helping establish innovative approaches for future decommissioning, circular economy, and low-carbon maritime infrastructure to support Brazil’s first floating offshore wind demonstration project.