Construction of the world’s largest floating solar energy installation will begin this month.
Kyocera TCL Solar – a partnership between Japanese technology firm Kyocera and Century Tokyo Leasing – will develop and operate two floating solar power plants at Nishihira Pond and Higashihira Pond in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, using French firm Ciel et Terre’s Hydrelio floating solar platforms.
The 1.7MW plant planned at Nishihira Pond will become the world’s largest solar power generating system installed on water, while the two will have a combined the combined output of 2.9MW.
In a statement the firm said: “Due to the rapid implementation of solar power, securing tracts of land suitable for utility-scale solar power plants is becoming more difficult in Japan.
“In addition to ground-mount systems and rooftop systems for factory buildings and warehouses, Kyocera TCL Solar will start the floating solar power generation business utilising the country’s abundant water surfaces. Due to great variation in the amount of rainfall by season, there are many reservoirs throughout Japan for agricultural and flood-control purposes.”
Since the company’s launch in July 2012 it has constructed 28 solar power plants, of which 11 plants have begun operation, and it plans to develop roughly 60MW of floating installations by March next year.
Under the partnership Kyocera Group will undertake the supply of solar modules and related equipment in addition to construction, maintenance and operation, while Ciel et Terre will be responsible for the supply of floating solar platforms as well as technical input for installing the systems on water.
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