Kyocera introduces world’s largest floating solar farm

Japanese electronics and ceramics manufacturer Kyocera has today (3 September) announced that it is beginning work on what will be the world's largest floating solar installation.


The 2.9MW project comprises two separate floating arrays in the Nishira and Higashihira reservoirs in Kato City. The 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.

They are part of Kyocera’s plans to develop floating installations for reservoirs across the country, totaling approximately 60MW by the end of March 2015.

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.

Water abundance

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. 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.

Securing areas of land suitable for utility-scale solar power plants is becoming more difficult in Japan due to the rapid implementation of solar power. Kyocera TCL Solar wants to start Japan’s floating solar power generation business utilising 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.

Yesterday edie reported that Kyocera’s document output management brand, Kyocera Document Solutions, has made the final shortlist for the 2014 Sustainability Leaders Awards. Read the full shortlist here.

Luke Nicholls

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