Canadian Solar Inc. today announced that it started the commercial operation of four solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Japan, totaling approximately 8.6MW.
The 8.6MW portfolio of projects include the 2.6MW Hijimachi Fujiwara solar power plant in Hayami-gun, Oita Prefecture, the 2.2MW Koba solar power plant in Isa-shi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, the 2.1MW Tsukuba Holes solar power plant in Kasama-shi City, Ibaraki Prefecture and the 1.7MW Yusuicho solar power plant in Aira-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture. Financing for these four projects is being provided by Rabobank Hong Kong, pursuant to a credit agreement announced on July 28, 2015.
"We are pleased to start commercial operation of four additional solar projects totaling 8.6MW, which brings our total megawatts in operation in Japan close to 15MW," commented Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc. "We remain positive on the opportunities ahead for our energy business in Japan and remain committed to delivering reliable solar energy solutions around the world."
The 2.6MW Hijimachi Fujiwara solar plant, powered by 10,098 Canadian Solar CS6P-255P modules, achieved commercial operation on October 13, 2015. The electricity generated from this plant, approximately 3,101MWh annually, will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20 year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥36.00 ($0.30) per kWh.
The 2.2MW Koba solar plant powered by 8,558 Canadian Solar CS6P-260P modules, achieved commercial operation on September 16, 2015. The electricity generated from the plant, approximately 2,810MWh annually, will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20 year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥40.00 yen ($0.34) per kWh.
The 2.1MW Tsukuba Holes solar plant powered by 8,250 Canadian Solar CS6P-255P modules, achieved commercial operation on September 24, 2015. This plant is expected to generate approximately 2,199MWh of clean, solar electricity annually to be purchased by Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20 year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥40.00 yen ($0.34) per kWh.
And finally the 1.7MW Yusuicho solar plant powered by 6,860 Canadian Solar CS6P-255P modules, achieved commercial operation on August 21, 2015. This plant is expected to generate approximately 2,226MWh of clean, emission-less solar electricity every year, which will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20 year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥36.00 yen ($0.30) per kWh.
