Low carbon goals alter solar project plans

Yamanashi Prefecture and TEPCO agreed to move the inauguration schedule for the mega solar power generation project to January 2012.

The initial plan was to start the commercial operation of half the solar power plant at Mt. Komekura in Kofu, Yamanashi with an output of about 5,000 kW sometime in FY 2011. It will be followed by the commercial inauguration of the remaining 5,000 kW facilities by the end of FY 2013.

However, the design and the construction processes were reviewed with a view to accelerating efforts toward a low-carbon society. As a result, it was decided that the two steps of commercial inauguration be unified into a single schedule to launch the entire plant in January 2012 to provide a total output of 10,000 kW.

The opening of a PR center, which will be built and operated by Yamanashi Prefecture, will coincide with the inauguration of the plant.

Yamanashi is comprehensively and systematically implementing global warming initiatives in line with the "Yamanashi Prefecture Action Plan against Global Warming," formulated in March 2009.

The present mega solar power generation project is central to this Action Plan. Taking advantage of its regional characteristic of having one of the highest solar irradiation
levels in Japan, Yamanashi intends to focus even more efforts on introducing and promoting renewable energy sources, including solar power generation.

TEPCO aims to increase the use of nonfossil energy sources as a means to realise a low-carbon society. With this goal in mind, TEPCO will continue to support the spread of solar power generation through various activities and will strive to build mega solar power plants, including those jointly planned with municipal governments.