March 16, 2014 - First Solar, Inc. today announced the completion of the 1.3MW(DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant at Kitakyushu-shi. Powered by First Solar FS Series 3 Black PV modules, the plant will generate approximately 1,400MWh of clean and safe solar electricity per year. Power from the project will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Company.
"Japan has ambitious solar power development goals to help mitigate the dependency on nuclear energy," said Joe Kishkill, First Solar's Chief Commercial Officer. "The completion of the Kitakyushu-shi project supports that commitment along with providing electricity users with a fuel alternative that is safe, can be rapidly deployed, and has the smallest carbon footprint."
The project had a workforce of approximately 65 construction jobs at its peak, building local capability to construct similar clean and safe solar power projects in the future.
First Solar holds 100 percent equity in the project. Obayashi Corporation and Yaskawa Electric Corporation constructed the project. Nippon Sheet Glass supplied the glass used in the PV modules.