Panasonic launches solar heat pump solution for water heating
Panasonic has unveiled a new product in Japan with a PV-based charging function that uses a heat pump and hot water storage unit to save energy by maintaining bathwater temperatures at constant levels.
Japan allocates 268.7MW in eleventh solar auction, lowest bid comes in at $0.078/kWh
The procurement exercise was open to PV projects exceeding 250kW in size and had a ceiling price of ¥10.25/kWh ($0.089).
Solar PPA business on the rise in Japan
Sumitomo, Sunseap and Shikoku Electric are partnering to offer bilateral PPAs to big power consumers in Japan. The consortium will operate through a dedicated joint venture and will offer three different PPA options.
Japan unveils 2022 feed-in tariff levels for PV
The Japanese government is proposing 20-year FITs lower than $0.010/kWh for rooftop PV and a ceiling price of $0.087/kWh for solar energy auctions. These incentive levels will likely be insufficient to stimulate demand given rising solar project costs.
New app from Japan enables users to invest in utility scale PV starting from $2.2/W
The app is currently available only in Japan and its developer – Change The World – is now planning to bring it to the U.S. market. The app is purportedly enabling annual investment return of around 7% for projects under Japan’s feed-in tariff scheme.
Land-constrained Japan sees utility scale solar reach 1,185m altitude
A 37 MW solar plant was built in Japan’s mountainous eastern Nagano prefecture. The project was developed by Singapore-based Vena Energy and constructed by Japanese contractor Airu.
Japan revises 2030 targets, plans to double renewables
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has released a draft energy plan with ambitious revisions to the nation’s previous energy and emissions targets. The proposed plan will sees a doubling of renewables compared to the previous target, and significant cuts to coal and gas, much of which it buys from Australia.
Sumitomo Mitsui Construction deploys in-house floating PV tech
Sumitomo Mitsui Construction has used its PuKaTTo proprietary tech for a 2 MW floating PV project in Japan’s Kagawa prefecture. It said its durable, easily deployable floats can host 60-cell and 72-cell solar modules.
Solar-plus-storage as an antidote to grid congestion in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido
Chinese inverter maker Sungrow has switched on a 6 MW / 21 MWh solar-plus-storage facility on the island. The FIT project’s connected AC capacity is limited to only 845 kW, but the containerized storage solution provided by the company ensures its viability.
Japan PV auctions not a failure, says IRENA
Land scarcity and grid congestion are the main reasons for unexpectedly low capacity allocations in Japan’s five PV auctions between 2017 and January 2020. However, the auction outcomes should not be seen as disappointing, as the average final prices were close to the cost of electricity for solar, says the International Renewable Energy Agency.
