The Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills solar power plant is located across Kanoya City and Osaki Town in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is fully operation following construction of a ground-mounted installation with approximately 100 MW peak capacity and some 356,928 solar modules. The facility started operations in March 2020 and is expected to generate around 117,000 MWh annually. This is enough to power nearly 39,000 households. The solar project is also one of Kyushu’s largest solar power plants. Kyushu is also home to the largest battery storage project in Japan by developers Sonnedix and Osaka Gas.
Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills Project Starts Operation in Japan
Reported August 14, 2021 – A new 100 MW solar power park supplied by Kyocera solar modules has begun operation in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Operated by the Kyocera and backed Kanoya LLC joint venture, the solar park is one of the largest PV facilities in Japan on the island of Kyushu.
Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills Project Factsheet
Location: Kanoya City and Osaki Town, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Developers: Kanoya Osaki Solar (Joint venture of Kansai Electric Power Co., Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., and Konoike Construction)
Project Type: Utility-scale solar PV facility
Capacity: 100 MW peak (79 MW AC)
Technology: Approximately 356,928 solar panels modules installed
Site Area: About 200 hectares
Estimated Investment: ¥40 billion (USD 300 million)
Construction Start: November 2018
Commercial Operation: March 2020
Annual Generation: 117,000 MWh. About 39,000 households equivalent.
Power Purchaser: Kyushu Electric Power Company
Status: Fully operational and delivering to grid under long-term FIT contract.
Project Stakeholders
Venture partner Tokyo Century coordinated financing for the project with 17 regional banks. Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills LLC, a joint venture that counts Japanese electronics and solar cell and module manufacturer, Kyocera, as one of its main shareholders, is operating the 100 MW Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills Solar Power Plant. The site uses 356,928 high-efficiency Kyocera solar modules. These are expected to generate some 117,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually.
Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills’ backers also comprise of the GF Corporation and Kyudenko Corporation. The two established a consortium to oversee the plant’s design, construction and maintenance. In addition to the backers, Tokyo Century worked with the Bank of Fukuoka in arranging a syndicated loan for the project. Kanoya Osaki Solar Hills LLC, which will handle operations of the facility, working on the construction of the site with the cooperation of Kagoshima Prefecture, the city of Kanoya, the town of Osaki and other members of the community.
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More on the Project
Planning of the project began in January 2014. This is after the local community in expressed interest in repurposing land designated for a golf course that had been subsequently abandoned.
“We believe that this installation will contribute greatly to the local community through the creation of jobs and increased tax revenues in both Kanoya and Osaki.” Kyocera also said in a statement.
Akihito Kubota, executive officer and general manager of Kyocera, also added, “GF, Kyocera, Kyudenko and Tokyo Century started this project with a commitment to contribute to the community. This will be in cooperation with local governments by assisting with a long-term land redevelopment vision.”
