Japan's Largest-scale Photovoltaic Power Plants to be Constructed in Waterfront Area, Kawasaki

Copyright Kawasaki city

Kawasaki city in Kanagawa prefecture, and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) announced on December 3, 2009, that they have a basic agreement for a joint project to construct two photovoltaic power plants with a total output of 20,000 kilowatts (kW) in the waterfront area of the city. The project is known as the Mega Solar Power Generation Project, and the plants will be among Japan's largest, with an annual energy production estimated to be approximately 21 million kilowatt hours (kWh).

Ukishima photovoltaic power plant (tentative name) will install solar panels (10 hectare (ha) area) on the city-owned site of about 11 ha in Ukishima-cho, Kawasaki ward, Kawasaki city, and generate about 7,000 kW. Annual energy production is estimated to be about 7.4 million kWh. Ogishima photovoltaic power plant (tentative name) will install solar panels (20 ha area) on the company-owned site of about 23 ha in Ogishima, Kawasaki ward, and generate about 13,000 kW. Annual energy production is estimated to be about 13.7 million kWh.

The construction of both plants is to start in February 2010, and operations will begin in fiscal 2011. In addition to providing some part of the sites, Kawasaki city will promote photovoltaic power generation as part of this plan. TEPCO will be in charge of constructing and operating the plants. The total energy production will amount to approximately 5,900 households' annual energy consumption, and the carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction effect is expected to be about 8,900 tons per year.

Kawasaki City official website
http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/index_e.htm
Tokyo Electric Power Co. official website
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html

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