Large-scale Photovoltaic Power System Starts Full Operational Testing in City of Hokuto

Copyright NTT Facilities Inc.

A large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power system, with a capacity of 1.8 megawatts, began full operational testing on December 3, 2009, in the city of Hokuto, in Yamanashi Prefecture, after being connected to a high-voltage transmission grid of 66 kilovolts -- a first in the country. The project has been under development since fiscal 2006, and is managed jointly by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), the city of Hokuto, and NTT Facilities Inc.

They are planning to develop the system by taking advantage of the extended hours of sunshine in Hokuto, the longest in Japan. It consists of one of the largest power conditioners available, combined with the world's first multiple power system stabilizers, 24 types of solar modules (the world's largest number), and an environment-friendly trestle developed especially for the project.

Now that the system is in full testing mode, the group will be evaluating its economic and environmental aspects based on the operational data collected, in order to determine the economic feasibility of the power plant. They will also draw up a guidebook for the plant as an introductory guideline, so NEDO can release the results to the public in order to encourage broader use of PV power generation.

NEDO Updates Japan's Photovoltaic Technology Roadmap to 2050 (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029318.html
NTT Facilities, Inc. official website
http://www.ntt-f.co.jp/profile-e/

Posted: 2010/03/19 06:00:15 AM

TAG Energy , Local government , Non-manufacturing industry