japan

Asset manager ESR Group has published its environmental, social and governance (ESG) 2030 roadmap where it targets to reach 1GW of installed solar power capacity from its rooftop assets.

An increase in strategic, self-generating renewable energy ‘prosumers’ in the energy market has the potential to lead to ‘death spirals’ for utilities, according to research from the Tokyo University of Science.

While solar has been the backbone of Japan’s renewable energy push, deployment has been stalling in recent years. Chris Wilkinson of Rystad Energy details the benefits of the country’s feed-in premium scheme, the potential for corporate PPAs and the importance of battery storage.

UK-based energy group Octopus Energy has made its first steps in the Asian renewables market with an investment in Japanese solar developer Yotsuya Capital.

Japanese annual PV market size for 2022 is estimated to be 6.5GWDC, which is about the same volume as 2021.

Canadian Solar has received the green light for 685MW of PV projects in Spain, the same week that it announced commercial operation of three Japanese solar plants totalling 42MWp.

Toyota Tsusho Corporation has announced an 85% stake purchase in SB Energy, the Japanese Solar developer subsidiary of SoftBank Group.

Canadian Solar has commenced operation on its 100MW Azuma Kofuji solar project in Japan, its largest project in the country.

Japanese renewable energy company Shizen Energy has received a ¥20 billion (US$133 million) investment from investment group CDPQ.

Japan’s 13th solar auctions have been heavily undersubscribed as developers struggle with land availability, support levels and familiarity with power market access, according to Shulman Advisory, a Tokyo-based renewables analyst agency.