“SOL de Omura Minojima Solar Power Plant” is the biggest solar installation in Nagasaki Prefecture and is also one of the biggest in Japan. The new power plant is expected to generate approximately 37 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to the annual power consumption of 7,500 households in Japan.
Support from local banks
Solar Frontier and Chopro jointly established the company Nagasaki Solar Energy to develop and manage the new power plant. Chopro is a aliquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributor and solar power producer Chiyoda Corporate provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services and the land for this project was leased by Nagasaki Prefecture. The project benefited from the support of regional companies, including a syndicate of local banks from the Kyushu region (led by Mizuho Bank) which provided non-recourse project financing. Electricity generated by the power plant is being sold to Kyushu Electric Power Company.
Specific installation challenges
SOL de Omura Minojima’s location next to Nagasaki Airport’s 3,000 meter runway and on an offshore island presented the experienced development team with a number of specific challenges. Solar Frontier provided its CIS solar panels, which offer anti-reflective properties so as not to affect aircraft operations. The power plant was designed in accordance with height and other regulatory restrictions due to airplanes landing and taking off. A 10-kilometer submarine power cable was also laid in order to connect the power plant to the electric grid on mainland Kyushu. Construction, which began in April, 2015 and was completed on schedule in July, 2016.
The successful completion of SOL de Omura Minojima is the result of close work between Solar Frontier, local energy provider Chopro and Nagasaki Prefecture. (HCN)
Related News:
https://www.pveurope.eu/solar-modules/k-line-uses-cis-panels-new-transport-ship
