GF Corporation, Kyocera Corporation, Kyudenko Corporation, and Tokyo Century Corporation joint venture, Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills, has started operating ‘Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills Solar Power Plant’ in Kyushu, with peak generating capacity of approximately 100 megawatts (MW).

Project planning began in January 2014, as the local community expressed interest in re-purposing land designated for a golf course more than 30 years ago that was subsequently abandoned. The site uses 356,928 Kyocera solar modules and is expected to generate approximately 117,000MWh — enough electricity to power roughly 39,300 typical households, offsetting about 62,420 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Under the agreement, Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills will manage operations of the facility. A consortium established by Kyudenko and GF is undertaking design, construction, and maintenance of the power plant, and Kyocera is supplying high-efficiency solar modules. Tokyo Century is responsible for the financing arrangement, with Tokyo Century and The Bank of Fukuoka, jointly arranging a syndicated loan with 17 regional banks.

Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills has been working on the construction of the site with the cooperation of Kagoshima Prefecture, Kanoya City, the Town of Osaki, and other members of the community.

“GF, Kyocera, Kyudenko and Tokyo Century started this project with a commitment to contribute to the community in cooperation with local governments by assisting with a long-term land redevelopment vision. Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills LLC aims to operate a power plant with an environmentally friendly design to minimize land redevelopment impact. Through this project, we will continue to promote renewable energy, environmental protection, and a more sustainable society.”
Akihito Kubota, executive officer and general manager of the Corporate Smart Energy Group at Kyocera.