Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

70 MW plant to be built in Southern Japan

Kyocera and six other companies have formed a new company to build and operate a 70 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power plant in the Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. The new company will be called the Kagoshima Mega Solar Power Corporation and Kyocera will be the largest shareholder.

Kyocera has formed a new company to develop a 70 MW project in Japan's south.

Flickr/Ivan Mlinaric

The large-scale photovoltaic sector in Japan is beginning to build momentum, with Kyocera one of the latest companies to become involved in developing big projects. Under the revamped FIT program, which came into effect July 1, photovoltaic power plants look set to deliver significant returns on investment, while meeting Japan’s drastic power needs.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance has predicted that 3.2 GW or US$9.6 billion worth of projects will be developed in 2012.

The 70 MW Kogoshima power plant will be located on land owned by the IHI Corporation and the electricity will be sold to the Kyushu Electric Power Co. The project is estimated to cost 27 billion yen (US$345 million). Construction is set to commence in September for completion in 2013.

Kyocera modules will be used in the project with the company also responsible for the construction and maintenance of the power plant.