1.8MW Solar Project in Mobara, Chiba

Six private companies in Mobara city, Chiba prefecture, are going to found the special purpose company "Mobara Solar Utopia" and to embark on megasolar business.

The six companies are: Toyo Chemical, Kanto Natural Gas Development, Chiba Sekiyu, Chiba Bank, Boso Credit Union and another (*not named in the article).

The joint company takes a lease of a land of 38 thousand square meters from the city government.
And the output capacity of the station will be 1,750 kW.

Yomiuri: Area Chiba 2013/09/19
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/chiba/news/20130918-OYT8T01468.htm

Kochi Create Group to Construct 1.2 MW Solar in Tosa, Kochi

Kochi Create Group, which consists of four companies including Yondenko, received an order of constructing a 1.2MW solar in Tosa town of Kochi prefeture. The project is run by the town and the prefecture.

The operation start will be February 2015. And the annual generation will be 1,280 kWh.

Denki Shimbun 2013/09/18
http://www.shimbun.denki.or.jp/news/construction/20130918_01.html

Kyudenko Completed 500 kW Solar in Imari, Saga

Kyudenko completed its 500 kW solar station at an old elementary school in Imari city of Saga prefecture.
This is the second power station for the company in the prefecture.

2,016 photovoltaic panels will generate 450 thousand kWh per year.
The investment was 150 million JPY.

Nishinippon Shimbun: 2013/09/18 01:47
http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/saga/article/40248
Kyudenko Press Relaese (in Japanese)
http://www.kyudenko.co.jp/press/docs/130321.pdf

IHI to Embark on Overseas Renewable Energy: Wind in US and others

The heavy industry firm IHI is embarking on renewable energy business in overseas countries.

Starting from operation trust of eight facilities of biomass and wind power in the US, the company plans to expand its overseas business eventually to Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

IHI has produced and sold many power generators, but this is the first time for the company to be entrusted with the operation of power stations.

Nikkei 2013/9/18 2:00
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD130V7_X10C13A9MM8000/

MOE to Implement Tidal Wave Power by 2018

Ministry of the Environment (MOE) is going to advance tidal wave power generation, aiming at the implementation by the fiscal year 2018.

It has recently settled a future plan to develop 1 MW class commercial-level tidal turbine.
The investment will amount to 3 billion JPY by 2018.

Nikkei 2013/9/13 13:40
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASGG13002_T10C13A9MM0000/

Strawberry Cultivation by Underground Heat Pump in Niigata

The Prefectural Horticulture Center in Niigata recently started a field test of strawberry cultivation utilizing underground heat pump.

The price of strawberry tends to hike in December because the fruit is so popular for topping Christmas cakes.
The project aims at increasing the shipping amount of strawberry of the area in the same season.

The field test will last for two years.

Mainichi: Area Niigata: 2013/09/16
http://mainichi.jp/area/niigata/news/20130916ddlk15040028000c.html

Sekisui Chemical Hokkaido to Build Greenhouse with Underground Heat Pump in Mongolia

Sekisui Chemical Hokkaido is going to build greenhouses in Mongolia as a part of its agricultural assistance to the country.

The greenhouses will be equipped with Sekisui's underground heat pump system with thermal exchange tubes of two-meter depth.

Nikkei: 2013/9/4 12:00
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFC0300R_T00C13A9L41000/

Marutsu Dempa in Fukui to Introduce Woody Biomass to "Onsen Ryokans"

The electric transmitter manufacturer Marutsu Dempa in Fukui city, Fukui, is going to introduce woody biomass combustion boilers to ryokan hotels in onsen hot spring areas such as Awara Onsen.

The project has been approved by Forestry Agency and Ministry of the Environment as one of "Promoted enterprises to develop model areas utilizing woody biomass energy," by which the project cost of 20 million JPY will be financed.

Water heaters at several onsen hotels will be replaced to small woody boilers of 300 kW to 500 kW scale.

The project is considering importing boilers from Austria, Germany, and other biomass-advanced countries.

Fukui Shimbun: 2013/09/14 9:00
http://www.fukuishimbun.co.jp/localnews/economics/45539.html
Marutsu Dempa (in English)
http://www.marutsu-group.jp/en/

Less Than 10% of Approved Megasolars Have Started Operation in Chugoku Area

It turned out that only 22 megasolar project out of 241 in Chugoku area which had been approved by the national government had been started operation by the end of May this year.

METI sees that it is because of the today's general delay in material procurement and also that some project entities are waiting for price decline of solar facilities once their plans were successfully approved under the FiT scheme at the price of 42 JPY per kWh.

The ministry decided to investigate the current situation throughout Japan.

Chugoku Shimbun: 2013/09/16
http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn201309160025.html

Idera Capital Leased Roofs of Distribution Buildings for Keiyo Plant Solar Project

The real estate firm Idera Capital in Tokyo announced on 17th that it had concluded a lease contract with Keiyo Plant Engineering about roofs of distribution buildings which Idera is operating.

Keiyo is going to build two solar stations of 1.6 MW in total on the buildings and to sell the electricity to be generated utilizing the FiT.

LNEWS: 2013/09/17
http://lnews.jp/2013/09/f091708.html

Hitachi Appliance's New Solar Panel of 18.6% Efficiency

Hitachi Appliance started selling a new product of 210 W monocrystal photovoltaic panel as well as its half-sized panel of 105 W.

The conversion efficiency of the 210 W panel is 18.6 percent.
And the price is about 130 thousand JPY.

Kankyo Business 2013/09/17
http://www.kankyo-business.jp/news/005754.php

Nissan's New EV "e-NV200" is at Final Phase of Development

Nissan announced recently that it was advancing the new electric vehicle "e-NV200" and that the development of this van-type car was at the final phase.

For the company, the car will be the second EV to be sold globally after LEAF.

Nissan Motor Company: Press Release (in Japanese) 2013/09/08
http://www.nissan-global.com/JP/NEWS/2013/_STORY/130908-01-j.html

Fieldtest of 30 Kinds of Solar Panels at Fukushima Airport

Fukushima prefecture is going to operate a 1.5 MW solar station at Fukushima airport from March 2014.

30 different kinds of solar panels will be tested on their performance.

The total investment will amount to 500 million JPY.
The prefecture finances 45 million, and it will also collect investment from private sectors.

Asahi: Area Fukushima: 2013/09/13
http://www.asahi.com/area/fukushima/articles/MTW1309130700004.html

"Skylight Tube" by Inosho: Presentation on 24th in Kusatsu, Shiga

An explanatory meeting of "Skylight Tube" will be held at the company Inosho in Kusatsu city of Shiga prefecture on 24th.

The mechanism of the illumination system is as follows (website in Japanese):
http://www.skylighttube.co.jp/residential/mechanism/

Kentsu Shimbun: 2013/09/13
http://www.kentsu.co.jp/webnews/html_top/130913590010.html

Rising Next to Completed 2.5 MW Solar in Omuta, Fukuoka

The real estate firm Rising Next in Omuta city of Fukuoka prefecture has completed the construction of its 2,545 kW solar staiton in the same city in Fukuoka prefecture on 14th.

All the electricity will be sold to Kyushu Electric Power for 20 years.

Nishinihon Shimbun: 2013/09/15 00:23
http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/f_chikugo/article/39663

The specific-purpose car manufacturer Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo in Hyogo prefecture is going to start the operation of its 1.5 MW solar in Hachinohe city of Aomori on 17th.

The station is located in the Hachinohe Kita Inter Industrial Park.

Daily Tohoku 2013/09/14 08:40
http://cgi.daily-tohoku.co.jp/cgi-bin/news/2013/09/14/new1309140802.htm

Kyocera TCL's 1.5 MW Solar in Operation in Usa, Oita]

Kyocera TCL Solar Limited Liability Company started the operation of its 1.5 MW solar in Usa city of Oita prefecture.

This is the third megasolar in the city, and all the generated electricity will be sold to Kyusyu Electric Power.

An observatory with an elevation of three meters will be installed for education purpose.

Mainichi: Area Oita: 2013/09/15
http://mainichi.jp/area/oita/news/20130915ddlk44020340000c.html

Daiwa House to Build 1.98 MW Solar in Gojyo, Nara

Daiwa House is going to install a 1.98 MW solar in its idle land of 36 thousand square meters in Gojyo city of Nara prefecture.

The construction will start in September and will end in March 2014.
All the generated electricity will be sold to Kansai Electric Power.

And the total investment will be 600 million JPY.

Sankei: 2013/9/13 18:45
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/news/130913/biz13091318470026-n1.htm

1.9 MW Solar Started Operation in Mihara, Hiroshima

A 1.9 MW solar station started operation in Mihara city of Hiroshima prefecture.

A joint company financed by Sharp in Osaka and Fuyo General Lease in Tokyo will operate the station.

7,920 photovoltaic panels were installed in the land of 4.2 hectares which the city leases for 20 years.

All the electricity will be sold to Chugoku Electric Power.

Chugoku Shimbun: 2013/09/15
http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn201309150073.html