Sparx’s clean-energy investments hit $1.2 billion in Japan

The Tokyo-based asset manager owns 20 solar projects throughout the Japanese archipelago, from the southwestern island of Kyushu to the northern island of Hokkaido. Many of its PV arrays are located on Honshu, particularly in the greater Tokyo area.

It had about 84 MW of clean-energy assets in operation across the country by the end of the 2016 calendar year.

The company has also invested in an 18 MW wind farm in Aomori prefecture, as well as a 1.2 MW geothermal project in Ibusuki, Kagoshima prefecture, and a 6.3 MW biomass installation in Sanjo, Niigata prefecture.

Its investments in Japanese renewables have risen nearly 21% since February 2016, from ¥108.5 billion.

The company, which has been listed on the country's Jasdaq market since July 2013, revealed plans last March to invest ¥100 million in a 50 MW solar project in Usa, Oita prefecture.

In February 2015, it teamed up with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) and two other partners to launch a ¥5 billion fund to back the development of solar projects throughout Japan.

The Sparx Group’s total assets under management — including non-renewables investments in South Korea and other parts of Asia — were valued at roughly ¥962.8 billion at the end of January, down ¥34.9 billion from December, according to an online statement.