YEG to Construct 1.5MW Solar in Yamanashi city

The independent power producer YEG in Tsuru city, Yamanashi, will construct a megasolar plant of 1.5 MW in the old site of fruit tree research station of the prefecture in Yamanashi city.

The company plans to start operation by the end of this fiscal year (March 2014).

Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun: 2013/06/29
http://www.sannichi.co.jp/local/news/2013/06/29/6.html

Orix to Build 2.9MW Solar in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi

Orix is going to install a 2.9 MW solar station in an idle land owned by a subsidiary of Yamaguchi Bank in Shimonoseki city, Yamaguchi prefecture.

This is the second project by Orix in Chugoku area after one in Asakuchi city, Okayama.

Chigoku Shimbun: 2013/06/29
http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn201306290013.html

The Second Off-shore Wind Station Started Operation in Kitakyushu

The joint project of NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) and J-Power started operation of the second off-shore wind turbine (imbedded type) in Kitakyusyu, Fukuoka prefecture, after the first in the offshore of Choshi city of  Chiba prefecture.

The turbine is 126 meters high and has 2 MW output capacity. Also, it utilizes the so-called "jacket style" base construction, which fits uneven ground under water.

SmartJapan: 2013/06/28 07:00
http://www.itmedia.co.jp/smartjapan/articles/1306/28/news030.html

Toshiba Mitsubishi EIS to Increase PCS Production to 3.8 Million KW

Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems is going to reinforce its annual productive capacity of PCS for solar power systems up to 3.8 million kW by the fiscal year 2015.

This is 2.5 times of the current productive capacity.

The company aims to increase the world market share to 10% and to take the third position.

Asahi via Nikkan Kogyo: 2013/6/28 05:01
http://www.asahi.com/tech_science/nikkanko/NKK201306280020.html

Megasolar Facilities in 3 Beer Factories of Suntory

Solar Frontier announced that it would install megasolar facilities in three beer factories of Suntory, one of the biggest breweries in Japan.

The total output capacity will be 4.4 MW. The CIS thin film solar module by Solar Frontier will be introduced.

The three factories are in:
- Kashima town and Mifune town in Kumamoto (2.6MW)
- Takasago city in Hyogo (1.2MW)
- Shibukawa city in Gunma (0.6MW)

Nikkan Kogyo: 2013/06/28
http://www.nikkan.co.jp/newrls/rls20130628o-04.html

2MW Solar under Construction in Hidaka, Kochi

The electric appliance constructor Arakawa Denko in Kochi city, Kochi prefecture, is building a megasolar station of 2 MW scale in Hidaka village in the same prefecture. The operation will start in September.

Kochi Shimbun: 2013/06/28 08:38
http://www.kochinews.co.jp/?&nwSrl=304237&nwIW=1&nwVt=knd

Cow Brand Soap to Utilize Biogas from Liquid Waste

Cow Brand Soap Kyoshinsha announced on 24th that it had completed its in-factory biogas station "Kansui Ecology Plant" in Osaka city, Osaka.

The station utilizes the liquid waste "Kansui (literally 'sweet water')," which is made in the process of producing soap.

So far the company has had to consume much energy to process and recycle the liquid waste.

The new station uses anaerobic methanogenic bacteria to make biogas from the liquid. And the gas to be generated is used for boilers in the factory.

The company said the effects of the station would be:
 - Cutdown of energy consumption: 257 kilo liters per year and 10.6% of all-factory consumption
 - CO2 emission reduction: 526 t-CO2 per year and 11.0% of all-factory emission
 - Diminution of industrial waste: 1,200 tons per year and 80% (!) of all-factory waste

Cow Brand Soap Kyoshinsha: Press Release in Japanese 2013/06/24
http://www.cow-soap.co.jp/web/corporate-info/press-release/20130624/
Cow Brand Soap Kyoshinsha: English Webpage
http://www.cow-soap.co.jp/web/english/

Zentsuji City in Kagawa to Build 1.5MW Solar

Zentsuji city of Kagawa prefecture will install a solar station of 1.5 MW scale in its idle land of an old sport field.

The city said this would be the first case in the Shikoku area where a municipal government by itself conducts a mega-solar project.

Shikoku News: 2013/06/27 09:40
http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/kagawa_news/administration/20130627000172

"Rent Roof" Solar Business in Kanagawa: 8.4MW on 700 Condos

The house lease company Leopalace21 will embark on so-called "rent roof" solar business in cooperation with Kanagawa prefectural government.

The company will rent the roofs of the condominiums, flats, and apartment houses with which it has contractual relationships about room (or house) lease.

Then Leopalace21 will install solar systems on the roofs to sell all the electricity to Tokyo Electric Power.

The company aims to produce 8.4MW output in total on 700 buildings.

Kanagawa prefecture will help the project in terms of publicity and promotion.

SmartJapan: 2013/06/25 13:00
http://www.itmedia.co.jp/smartjapan/articles/1306/25/news076.html
Leopalace21 (in English)
http://en.leopalace21.com/

NEC to Sell Cloud-Type Building Energy Management System

NEC started selling of the Building Energy Management System (BEMS)　"Butics-SX," which utilizes a cloud environment.

The new product enables an integrated energy management over several buildings.
NEC plans to ship the product from October.

Impress Cloud Watch: 2013/6/27 06:00
http://cloud.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20130627_605327.html
NEC: Press Release (in Japanese)
http://jpn.nec.com/press/201306/20130626_01.html

Panasonic to Extend Solar System Warranty to 20 Years

Panasonic is going to extend the warranty period for its solar system products from current 10 years to 20 years.

The three new products (HIT series) for residences which the company will start receiving order on 27th are subject to the extension.

If the generation output becomes:
 -less than 81% of the rated maximum output after 10 years (*same as the current condition)
or
 -less than 72% after 20 years (*new condition),

the company will replace the system or repair for free.

Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric have recently made their warranty periods from 10 to 20 years.
It can be said that Panasonic is following the tendency.

Nikkei BP: 2013/06/26
http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/emf/20130626/250248/

Toyota Home to Sell Smart Houses in Sendai, Miyagi

Toyota Home, in cooperation with Toyota Home Tohoku, announced that it would start selling "smart houses with lot" in Wakabayashi ward of Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture on 29th.

The two companies intend to help the tsunami-ravaged town reviving by utilizing state-of-the-art technologies that all Toyota group has developed.

The 36 lot houses to be sold during the first period of this time will have home energy management systems (HEMS), batteries for EV and PHV, highly efficient water heaters such as "Eco Cute", and solar power generators.

Response: 2013/06/27 07:48
http://response.jp/article/2013/06/27/200938.html

(Interview with Project Leader of Floating Wind Turbine in Offshore Fukushima)

Nikkei BP's interview with Mr. Tomofumi Fukuda (Marubeni), project leader of floating off-shore wind farm in Fukushima is in the link below. (Only the first portion of the interview)

Sorry it is an long article in Japanese, but you can see some photos.
And if you like, please use Google translation :)

Nikkei BP: 2013/06/26 (in Japanese)
http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/report/20130624/250110/?P=1

New Coating for Solar Panels by Taiyo Toryo

Taiyo Toryo (Coating) in Ota ward, Tokyo, recently developed a transparent inorganic paint for cover glass of solar panels.

It enebles dust on panels to be easily carried away by rain or washing water.

The coating includes silicon and has a hydrophilic property, which makes a fibrous layer on the panel. That prevents dust from going into the layer.

Also, the paint cuts ultraviolet rays, so that it will contribute to long operating life of photovoltaic panels.

Nikkan Kogyo 2013/06/26
http://www.nikkan.co.jp/news/nkx0820130626aaaz.html
Taiyo Toryo
http://www.taiyotoryo.co.jp/

Kagoshima Megasolar to Build On-Site Museum about Solar Power

Kagoshima Megasolar Power, which is financed by 7 companies including Kyocera, will build an on-site museum about solar power generation in its Kagoshima Nanatsujima Megasolar Power Station (70MW).

The megasolar station is located in Nanatsujima island in Kamoike-shinmachi, Kagoshima, and is currently under construction.

Both the station and the museum will open in this autumn.

Suumo: 2013/06/25
http://suumo.jp/journal/2013/06/25/46722/?vos=nsuusbsp20111206001
Kyocera Press Release (in Japanese)
http://www.kyocera.co.jp/news/2013/0603_guyu.html

Yurtec to Start Megasolar in Tomiya, Miyagi

The electricity appliance constructor Yurtec, which is one of the Tohoku Electric Power group companies, will embark on megasolar business in Tomiya town of Miyagi prefecture.

The output capacity is 1.3 MW and the cost will be 400 million JPY.

All the electricity will be sold to Tohoku Electric Power. Yurtec estimates the annual income to be 200 to 300 million yen.

Nikkei 2013/6/26 2:00
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO56618450V20C13A6L01000/

KDDI to Start 3 Megasolar Stations: 8.8MW in Total

The mobile communication conglomerate KDDI announced on 24th that it would construct three mega-solar stations by the end of this autumn.

The company utilizes idle land of its own.

The three stations are as follows:
 -Oyama Network Center (Oyama city, Tochigi) 3.5MW
 -Yamata Transmitting Station (Koga city, Ibaraki) 3.3MW
 -Old site of Kitaura Receiving Station(Namegata city, Ibaraki) 2.0MW

SankeiBiz: 2013.6.24 16:42
http://www.sankeibiz.jp/business/news/130624/bsj1306241643003-n1.htm
KDDI Press Release: 2013/06/24 (in Japanese)
http://www.kddi.com/corporate/news_release/2013/0624b/

Odakyu to Introduce Underground Heat Pump to a Station

Odakyu Electric Railway is going to introduce an air-conditioning system by underground heat pump to its Setagaya Daita station in Tokyo.

The company is renovating the station to be underground.

It is expected that the new system will reduce electricity consumption by 30%.

Nikkei: 2013/6/18 0:23
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO56318090X10C13A6TJ1000/

Sumitomo to Start Biomass Power Plant in Far East Russia

Sumitomo is going to launch a 6 MW biomass power plant, which will be the first commercial-base station in the Far East area of Russia.

The station will utilize wooden biomass from wood product factories.

Nikkan Kyogyo: 2013/06/20
http://www.nikkan.co.jp/news/nkx1120130620aaaw.html
The project report: Sumitomo Corp (in Japanese)
http://www.sumitomocorp.co.jp/csr/environment/biodiversity/cs02/

Mitsui ES to Build Biogas Power Plant in Betsukai, Hokkaido

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (MES) is going to build a biogas power plant using livestock dung in Betsukai town of Hokkaido prefecture.

The output capacity is 800 kW and will be of the biggest scale of this kind in Japan.

The company also intends to make a recovery system of livestock dung, which daily farmers in the area have had trouble disposing.

Nikkei: 2013/6/18 2:00
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFC1701X_X10C13A6L41000/
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (English)
http://www.mes.co.jp/english/

Chubu Electric's 6th Megasolar in Thailand Started Operation

Chubu Electric Power announced on 21st that it had started the operation of its 8 MW solar station (Sri Chula) in Nakorn Nayok, Thailand.

The company has conducted the project in cooperation with Gunkul Engineering Public Company Limited.

And this is the last megasolar station of the project to construct six in the country.

All the electricity will be sold to Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA).

Denki Shimbun: 2013/06/24
http://www.shimbun.denki.or.jp/news/energy/20130624_01.html
Chubu Electric Power (English webpage)
http://www.chuden.co.jp/english/index.html?cid=fo
Press Release (in Japanese)
https://www.chuden.co.jp/corporate/publicity/pub_release/press/3221137_6926.html

21MW Solar to Be Constructed in Tokachi Speed Way

The lease and financing conglomerate Orix, together with the owner of "Tokachi Speed Way" MSF, announced on 20th that the two companies would construct a mega-solar facility of 21 MW scale in the speed way.

The total cost is 6.7 billion JPY and the construction will be completed in December 2014.

Tokachi Mainichi Shimbun News: 2013/06/21 14:03
http://www.tokachi.co.jp/news/201306/20130621-0015938.php

Musical Box Engineer Made "Solar Orgel" in Hokuto, Yamanashi

An engineer of musical box in Hokuto city of Yamanashi prefecture made "Solar Orgel," or solar-powered musical box.

Only on a fair day the orgels can work, but the engineer said that the inconvenience is even charming.

Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun: 2013/06/22
http://www.sannichi.co.jp/local/news/2013/06/22/5.html

Radiation-Suffered Iidate Village to Launch 10MW Solar

Iidate village of Fukushima prefecture, where all the village population had had to evacuate after the disaster in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, settled on 21st that it would start a mega-solar project of 10 MW scale.

The project is led by a new company recently founded by Toko Electrical Construction in Tokyo, which invested 50 million JPY.
The village is going to finance 40 million for the new company.

The solar station will start operation in April 2016. All the electricity to be generated will be sold to Tohoku Electric Power for 20 years.

The village chief said that he wanted to make good use of solar power to revive the community.

Fukushima Broadcasting: 2013/06/22 11:33
http://www.kfb.co.jp/news/index.cgi?n=2013062210