Since the first of July, the juwi group has a one hundred percent entity to develop renewable energy projects in Japan: juwi Nippon Energy KK, based in Tokyo, will focus on developing utility scale solar energy projects all over the country as well as on buying project rights for suitable PV power projects punctually. Another perspective might be the development of onshore wind energy project in coastal areas.
With the start of juwi Nippon, juwi continues to realize another element of its strategic approach to focus on project development activities in specific markets. Until now, juwi was well-known in Japan as an experienced EPC contractor for large PV power projects as well as a company offering technical and commercial operation services. This was established in the joint venture juwi Shizen Energy. Juwi Shizen Energy will continue its business activities as in the past.
Leading the new juwi company is Shinichi Kato, an experienced finance and energy expert from Japan. Before joining juwi, Shinichi Kato has been with Acacia Renewables, K.K and Equis Energy Japan for two years to lead both Business Development and supporting functions. Prior to join in the renewable energy industry, he spent over 30 years of commercial banking industry with various international institutions such as Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Credit Agricole CIB, GE Capital and The Tokyo Star Bank (TSB) where he held various management roles including executive officer & CFO, head of LBO finance, structured finance and project finance.
Shinichi Kato started his banking career in the late 1980’s, and has extensive debt underwriting, arrangement, debt advisory, workouts, restructuring and project finance experiences across various industries, including power generation, oil refining, LNG production, mining, petrochemical upstream and downstream productions, telecommunications and media sectors. He holds BS from Hitotsubashi University of Japan (1986) and MBA from Stern School Business of the New York University (1992)
As Managing Director and Representative Director of juwi Nippon Energy, he is managing all aspects of the corporation, and is responsible for the start-up of the company in Japan.
