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KYOCERA, CENTURY TOKYO LEASING, CIEL ET TERRE ANNOUNCE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLOATING SOLAR POWER PLANT

New project commences Kyocera TCL Solar LLC’s floating solar power plant business in Japan

03 September 2014

Kyoto / Neuss − Kyocera Corporation (President: Goro Yamaguchi; herein “Kyocera”), Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation (President: Shunichi Asada; herein “Century Tokyo Leasing”), and Ciel et Terre International (President: Alexis Gaveau; Japanese subsidiary Ciel Terre Japan K.K. herein “Ciel et Terre”) announced today that they will begin construction this month on the world’s largest floating solar installation. Kyocera TCL Solar LLC will develop and operate utility-scale floating solar power plants utilizing Ciel et Terre’s Hydrelio© floating solar platforms in two installations, totaling 2.9 megawatts (MW) at Nishihira Pond and Higashihira Pond in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The 1.7MW plant planned at Nishihira Pond will become the world’s largest solar power generating system installed on water*.

Kyocera and Century Tokyo Leasing jointly established Kyocera TCL Solar LLC in August 2012 for the purpose of constructing and operating multiple utility-scale solar power plants in Japan under the country’s feed-in-tariff system, which commenced in July 2012. Since the company launch, it has constructed 28 solar power plants, of which 11 plants have begun operation.

Due to the rapid implementation of solar power, securing tracts of land suitable for utility-scale solar power plants is becoming more difficult in Japan. In addition to ground-mount systems and rooftop systems for factory buildings and warehouses, Kyocera TCL Solar will start the floating solar power generation business utilizing the country’s abundant water surfaces. Due to great variation in the amount of rainfall by season, there are many reservoirs throughout Japan for agricultural and flood-control purposes.

Kyocera TCL Solar plans to develop floating installations for reservoirs in the country totaling approximately 60MW by the end of this fiscal year (March 31, 2015). The installations will utilize floating solar platforms developed and patented by Ciel et Terre, which have a proven record of success during more than three years of operation in France.

Under the business, Century Tokyo Leasing will provide finance for the installations, and the Kyocera Group will undertake the supply of solar modules and related equipment in addition to construction, maintenance and operation. Ciel et Terre will be responsible for the supply of floating solar platforms as well as technical input for installing the systems on water. Through the business, the companies hope to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy and development of a low carbon society.


Overview of the project in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture

LocationTwo reservoirs in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
OperationKyocera TCL Solar LLC
OutputNishihira Pond: 1.7MW; Higashihira Pond: 1.2MW
(Total 2.9MW)
Solar modules255-watt Kyocera modules (11,256 modules in total)
Expected annuel power
generation		Approx. 3,300MWh/year
Electricity generated will provide the equivalent power for roughly 920 typical households**, and will be sold to the local utility through Japan’s feed-in-tariff system.
Start of constructionSeptember 2014
Start of operationApril 2015

 

Features of floating mega solar power plants

  • Generates more electricity than ground-mount and rooftop systems thanks to the cooling effect of the water. 
  • Reduces reservoir evaporation and algae growth by shading the water. 
  • Ciel et Terre’s floating platforms are 100% recyclable, utilizing high-density polyethylene which can withstand ultraviolet rays and corrosion. 
  • A strong design and installation technology are used for the floating platforms to ensure durability against typhoons.

* World’s largest floating solar power plant in terms of output (as of August 29, 2014)
** Based on an average use of 3,600kWh per household. Source: Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan


For more information about Kyocera: www.kyocera.eu

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