SeaTwirl and the University of Tokyo have started a cooperation where the research group led by Associate Professor Shinichiro Hirabayashi at the Department of Ocean Technology, Policy and Environment, are looking to adapt SeaTwirls technology to Japanese conditions. Japan's current energy mix is dominated by fossil fuels and with densely populated islands, the country is looking to the ocean and floating wind to help meet their future renewable energy needs. Everything that is built must however be able to withstand the typhoons which frequently hit the country with wind speeds up to 55 meters per second, usually between May and October.