Solar Frontier, the world’s largest provider of CIS solar energy solutions, and Chopro, a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributor and solar power producer, announced today the completion of an approximately 30 MW solar power plant located next to Nagasaki Airport in Japan. To celebrate its completion, the two companies hosted an opening ceremony earlier in the day, including representative guests from Nagasaki Prefecture.
“SOL de Omura Minojima Solar Power Plant” is the biggest solar installation in Nagasaki Prefecture and is also one of the biggest in Japan. The new power plant is expected to generate approximately 37 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to the annual power consumption of 7,500 households in Japan.
Solar Frontier and Chopro jointly established the company Nagasaki Solar Energy to develop and manage the new power plant. Chiyoda Corporate provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services and the land for this project was leased by Nagasaki Prefecture. The project benefited from the support of regional companies, including a syndicate of local banks from the Kyushu region (led by Mizuho Bank) which provided non-recourse project financing. Electricity generated by the power plant is being sold to Kyushu Electric Power Company.
SOL de Omura Minojima’s location next to Nagasaki Airport’s 3,000-meter runway and on an offshore island presented the experienced development team with a number of specific challenges. Solar Frontier provided its CIS solar panels, which offer anti-reflective properties so as not to affect aircraft operations. The power plant was designed in accordance with height and other regulatory restrictions due to airplanes landing and taking off. A 10-kilometer submarine power cable was also laid in order to connect the power plant to the electric grid on mainland Kyushu. Construction, which began in April 2015, was completed on schedule in July 2016.
The successful completion of SOL de Omura Minojima is the result of close work between Solar Frontier, local energy provider Chopro and Nagasaki Prefecture. Looking to harness the power of the sun to provide a cleaner, more comfortable lifestyle for everyone, Solar Frontier wants to continue to leverage its technological leadership and development know-how to provide economic solar power plants that contribute to local and regional development.
Chopro is an LPG company that’s rolling out the Kuriya brand of utensil shops and restaurants. It is now developing its business to include elements comprising residential and utility solar energy. It also supports sports, sponsoring the J2 league club V-Varen Nagasaki and the National Sports Festival in Nagasaki.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Solar Frontier is the world’s largest provider of CIS solar panels, system solutions, and services. It claims to have “technology that delivers economical and environmental advantages in real-world conditions” and “solutions ranging from innovative rooftop systems to professional power plant development services”; to “harness the power of the sun to provide a cleaner, more comfortable life for all”.