Kyocera and partners announce groundbreaking of 92MW Power Plant in Japan

Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills LLC has launched the construction of a 92 MW solar power plant in the japanese Kagoshima Prefecture. The solar power operating company is a joint venture of Kyocera Corporation, K.K. GAIA POWER, Kyudenko Corporation and Tokyo Century Corporation. Once finished the power plant is expected to generate 99,230 MWh annually, enough electricity to power approximately 33,370 typical households, offsetting roughly 52,940 tons of CO₂ emissions per year.

Project planning for the PV-plant began in January 2014, as the local community expressed interest in repurposing land that was designated for a golf course more than 30 years ago but subsequently abandoned. Now there are goning to be 340,740 Kyocera solar modules installed, covering an area of 2 km².

Under the agreement, Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills LLC will operate the business, and a consortium established by Kyudenko and Gaia Power is undertaking the design, construction and maintenance of the solar installation. Kyocera is supplying its high-efficiency solar modules and Tokyo Century is responsible for the finance arrangement. Approximately 35 billion yen (approx. US-$ 315 million) in investment is planned for the project, with a goal to begin operations in January 2020.

The massive installation is expected to contribute to the local community through job creation and increase of tax revenues in Kanoya City and Osaki Town. Nevertheless thre environmental impact is expected to be a lot less massive. A year-long environmental impact assessment has been completed for the large-scale project. Furthermore, the plant will feature an environmentally friendly design by minimizing land development.

Philipp Kronsbein / Kyocera