Mitsui, Toshiba join forces to build 50MW PV plant in Japan

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Mitsui and Toshiba are joining forces to build Japan’s largest PV system, according to financial newspaper Nikkei. With a capacity of 50MW, the plant will be considerably bigger than any other in Japan and cover 800,000m2 of Mitsui-owned land in the Aichi Prefecture.

Although Japan has a relatively mature solar industry, at present, the majority of its capacity is accounted for by residential installations. However, since March’s Fukushima disaster the calls for investment in utility-scale solar have grown ever louder. And with Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s renewable energy bill likely to be passed into law in the coming weeks, the Mitsui-Toshiba system is sure to be the first of many MW-scale developments over the next year or so.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Earlier this summer, entrepreneur Masayoshi Son unveiled plans to spend US$1 billion on 10 PV plants. Other systems have been proposed for the cities of Kawasaki (20MW) and Sakai (28MW).

Should it be ratified, Kan’s bill will require utilities to buy any electricity from solar and other renewable sources and, in turn, make solar a far more financially-viable option for investors and developers alike. Around 90% of the funding for the Aichi  project  will come in the form of a low-interest loan from the government-backed Development Bank, helping cover its estimated ¥20 billion (US$262.3 million) cost.

Electricity generated will be sold to Chubu Electric Power from 2013 onwards. Other firms mooted to be involved are Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding and Toagosei.

Read Next

September 18, 2025
CERC is finalising guidelines for virtual power purchase agreements (vPPAs) to unlock financing for over 40GW of uncontracted renewable capacity.
September 18, 2025
The capacity of virtual power plants in operation in North America has reached 37.5GW, a 13.7% year-on-year growth, according to Wood Mackenzie.
September 18, 2025
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) has forecast that Canada will add between 17GW and 26GW of solar PV over the next decade.
September 18, 2025
Researchers have called for enhanced international standards to detect ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) in PV modules after identifying “severe” levels of the problem in operational n-type panels.             
September 18, 2025
Indian PV makers have welcomed the government’s plan to add solar wafers to its ALMM List-III from June 2028.
September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA