Canadian Solar has started commercial operations at four solar photovoltaic power plants in Japan, totalling 8.6MWp.
The projects are the 2.6MWp Hijimachi Fujiwara plant in Hayami-gun, Oita Prefecture, the 2.2 MWp Koba facility in Isa-shi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, the 2.1 MWp Tsukuba Holes farm in Kasama-shi City, Ibaraki Prefecture and the 1.7 MWp Yusuicho plant in Aira-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture.
Financing for the projects comes from Rabobank Hong Kong, pursuant to a credit agreement announced on 28 July.
The credit facility has a two-year maturity and will be used to finance the construction of an initial portfolio of up to 20MWp of the company’s solar power plants in Japan.
The Hijimachi Fujiwara plant is powered by 10,098 Canadian Solar CS6P-255P modules, and achieved commercial operation on 13 October. Electricity generated from the plant will be bought by Kyushu Electric Power under a 20-year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥36.00 ($0.30) per kWh.
Koba solar plant is powered by 8558 Canadian Solar CS6P-260P units, and achieved commercial operation on 16 September. Electricity generated from the plant will also be purchased by Kyushu Electric under a 20-year FiD contract at the rate of ¥40.00 per kWh.
Tsukuba Holes is powered by 8250 Canadian Solar CS6P-255P modules and started operations on 24 September 24. Tokyo Electric Power Co will buy power under a 20-year FiD contract at the rate of ¥40.00 per kWh.
The Yusuicho solar plant consists of 6860 Canadian Solar CS6P-255P modules and started operations on 21 August. Kyushu Electric Power has a 20-year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥36.00 per kWh for the power from the plant.
Canadian Solar chairman and chief executive officer Shawn Qu said: “We are pleased to start commercial operation of four additional solar projects totaling 8.6 MWp, which brings our total MWs in operation in Japan close to 15 MWp.
“We remain positive on the opportunities ahead for our energy business in Japan and remain committed to delivering reliable solar energy solutions around the world.”
Image: Canadian Solar
