Japan’s largest Floating Solar Power Plant Begins Operations

Kyocera Corporation and Tokyo Century Corporation announced Kyocera TCL Solar has started operation of Japan’s largest 13.7 MW floating solar plant this month. Located on the Yamakura Dam reservoir in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, the company held a completion ceremony on March 20 with Kensaku Morita, the Governor of Chiba Prefecture. Kyocera TCL Solar is a joint venture of Kyocera and Tokyo Century established in 2012 to promote large-scale solar projects.

The plant was constructed over the surface of the reservoir, which is managed by the waterworks bureau of Chiba Prefecture for its industrial use. With over 44 acres of surface area, 50,904 Kyocera solar modules were installed to generate an estimated 16,170 MWh per year. All power generated is sold to TEPCO Energy Partner, Incorporated. The project was originally initiated by the Public Enterprises Agency of Chiba Prefecture seeking companies to help reduce its burden on the environment.

Since its establishment, Kyocera TCL Solar has constructed 61 solar power plants across Japan. The company has developed seven floating solar power plants using Japan’s fresh-water dams and reservoirs rather than agricultural land, for it is becoming more difficult to secure tracts of land suitable for a utility-scale power plant.