28 November 2012

Yamanashi Prefecture’s first private-sector utility-scale solar power plant breaks ground

Tokyo-based subsidiary Solar Frontier – the world’s largest manufacturer of CIS (copper indium selenium) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules – has been selected by Aikawa Press Industry Co Ltd to supply modules for the Aikawa Press Takane Plant Megasolar project. This is the first utility-scale solar project in the private sector to start construction in Yamanashi Prefecture. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Solar Frontier’s executive officer Yukihiro Oyama and Aikawa Press’ chairman & president Takeshi Aikawa, among others.

The project is said to be one of just a few solar power plants in Japan that have been built adjacent to a factory. With 12,000 Solar Frontier modules to be installed, its generating capacity will be 1.8MW. The operator will be Aikawa Press, and the sale of electricity is scheduled to start around the end of next March.

Yamanashi Prefecture has one of the highest annual sunshine rates in Japan, making it suited to solar energy projects. Solar Frontier has also provided modules for the Mt. Komekura Megasolar plant in Yamanashi.

The firm says that, looking ahead, it will keep working toward ‘local energy generation for local consumption’ using its CIS modules, as well as contributing to effective land use through similar utility-scale projects.

Tags: Solar Frontier CIS

Visit: www.solar-frontier.com