Kyocera, one of the world's topsolar panel manufacturers, recently announced that they, in partnership with two other companies, IHI Corporation and Mizuho Corporate Bank, will build Japan's largest ever solar farm.
Located on the Southwestern island of Kyushu, the seventy megawatt solar power plant is the start of efforts to integrate solar power within Japan's electricity grid.
The project will cost about US$309 million dollars, or 25 billion yen.
290,000 solar panels arranged on 314 acres of reclaimed land off the southern city of Kagoshina will generate enough electricity to power 22,000 homes while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000 tons annually.
Power to the people...
Fantastic! Makes my 4 X 110w panels seem so insignificant but they have done the job for me for the past 14 years. I wonder how the (material) cost of the Japanese project compares with that of a conventional, fossil fueled, power generator of similar kw output.
ReplyDeleteYes the comparative cost would be interesting but well done Japan for reducing greenhouse gases in what to me is a forward thinking way of the future.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the comparitive cost that matters though,it's the fact that once the solar farm's been made the power is then free for the working life of the panels, maintenance is probably considerably less too, as opposed to having to continue buying fuel maintaining turbines,generators /mining/drilling/fracking etc....!But I wonder what the carbon footprint of a solar panel is?
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