Canadian Solar Activates Vast Fukushima Solar Project

Ontario-headquartered Canadian Solar announced that its Japan flagship mega-project, the 100 MWp Azuma Kofuji solar project located in the Fukushima prefecture, recently reached commercial operation.

The Azuma Kofuji project is Canadian Solar's largest project in Japan and Fukushima prefecture's largest operational solar project to date.

The project is powered with Canadian Solar high efficiency HiKu modules and the energy generated is being purchased by the Tohoku Electric Power Company at the rate of JPY36 (U$0.26) per kWh under Japan's feed-in-tariff program for over 18 years. Canadian Solar's local subsidiary will perform the long-term operations and maintenance of the power plant.

Built on 460 acres, most of which were converted from abandoned agricultural land following the application of the newly enacted Japanese legislation to promote renewable energy power generation, Azuma Kofuji is expected to produce circa 106,800 MWh of clean and reliable energy, enough to power approximately 31,000 households and avoid over 50,000 metrics tons of CO2-equivalent emissions per year.

Additionally, the project will donate a share of the electricity sales revenues to the Fukushima City, funds of which will be used to promote local agricultural sector activities.

The project was financed by Nomura Capital Investment and the project is expected to participate in the Climate Bonds green certification process which is compatible with the new European Union Green Bond Standard.

Commenting on the project Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar said: "Before construction works began, the Azuma Kofuji project site was an abandoned, non-productive farmland. Our teams worked closely with the local communities and government in the land conversion process and successfully passed the Environmental Impact Assessment monitored by the Fukushima Prefecture. We are proud to help reinvigorate the local community and economy in a region that was heavily hit by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.”

Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 in Canada and is one of the world's largest solar technology and renewable energy companies. It is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, provider of solar energy and battery storage solutions, and developer of utility-scale solar power and battery storage projects with a geographically diversified pipeline in various stages of development.

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