We spoke with technical lead Emrah Sahin during his two-month secondment in Tokyo, where he is working alongside Wood Thilsted’s established local team to help accelerate offshore wind development in Japan. From technical challenges to cultural insights, Emrah shares what it’s like to immerse himself in Japan and contribute to projects that will shape the region’s renewable energy future.
Q: What motivated you to take on this secondment in Japan?
A: I saw this as an opportunity to apply my decade of offshore wind experience to Japan’s unique conditions while learning from our local team. Even though it’s a short secondment, being here in person allows me to understand the market dynamics and contribute meaningfully to tenders, ongoing projects, knowledge sharing, and the training of colleagues. It’s about blending global expertise with local knowledge to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your experience so far?
A: Working closely with our Tokyo team has been fantastic. They have strong relationships and deep market insight, so my role is to support and share perspectives from other regions. I’ve enjoyed the variety – one day I’m helping with tenders, problem-solving and leading projects, and the next I’m meeting clients and discussing their challenges and how we can support them. Every interaction strengthens collaboration and builds trust.
Q: What unique challenges does offshore wind development face in Japan compared to Europe?
A: Japan’s offshore wind market presents distinct engineering challenges, from seismic risks and soil liquefaction to complex regulatory frameworks and supply chain constraints. These factors demand adaptable foundation designs and innovative solutions that go beyond technical calculations. Experiencing these dynamics first-hand reinforces the importance of local context and ensures we deliver designs that meet both technical and cultural expectations.
Q: How does your expertise apply to projects here?
A: As a technical lead, my background spans tendering and early-stage works through to certified detailed designs, including wind, wave, ice, and seismic actions, certification, and fabrication and installation support. In Japan, managing seismic risk and soil liquefaction is critical to reducing project risk, so my experience in these areas helps strengthen our technical offering. Working alongside the local team means we can combine this expertise with their market insight to deliver the best results for clients.
Q: What cultural differences have you noticed, and how have they influenced collaboration?
A: Consensus-building and long-term relationships are very important here. It’s not just about delivering technical solutions – it’s about trust and knowledge-sharing. I’ve learned that investing time in conversations, whether in meetings or over lunch, is key to building strong partnerships. This collaborative approach aligns perfectly with Wood Thilsted’s OneTeam mindset.
Q: What advice would you give to colleagues considering an international secondment?
A: Be open-minded and proactive in learning the local culture. Even on a short secondment, understanding how people work and communicate is as important as technical expertise. Every interaction matters, so take the time to listen, share knowledge, and embrace the experience – it makes a big difference.”
Q: What’s next for you and the team in APAC?
A: My focus is on supporting the Tokyo team with tenders and ongoing projects during my time here. Looking ahead, Wood Thilsted aims to strengthen partnerships and grow our presence in the offshore wind market across APAC. Our goal is to be our clients’ preferred engineering partner, delivering world-class, optimised designs without ever compromising on quality. I’m confident that the work we’re doing now will help lay the foundations for sustainable energy infrastructure that delivers value for decades to come.
Emrah’s secondment reflects Wood Thilsted’s commitment to international mobility, cross-cultural collaboration, and delivering world-class solutions for the energy transition. Together with our Tokyo team, we’re driving offshore wind innovation and reinforcing our global presence – helping clients succeed in Japan and beyond.
About Emrah Sahin
Emrah is a technical lead in Wood Thilsted’s Engineering Services team, specialised in monopile foundation design for offshore wind. His expertise spans pile-soil interaction, structural dynamics, load management, clustering strategies, and structural design. With over a decade of experience from tendering and early-stage works through to certified detailed designs, fabrication and installation support, and lifetime asset management, Emrah is recognised for leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating all technical aspects of design. His focus is on delivering efficient, integrated solutions that help clients accelerate the energy transition and maximise project value.
About Wood Thilsted
Wood Thilsted is a specialised offshore wind engineering consultancy at the forefront of designing the global energy transition.
Driven by a shared purpose to accelerate the green energy transition, its team of world-class engineers delivers innovative, sustainable and optimised solutions that empower clients to achieve their renewable energy goals with greater speed and efficiency.
As a Certified B Corp, the company continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a responsible business in the renewable energy industry.
For more information, visit www.woodthilsted.com/