Japan

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group to halt funding for coal plants

This marks the 18th global financial institution to exclude coal for funding in 2020.

Orsted fears offshore wind auction delays in Japan

It plans to make a joint bid with TEPCO for a project near Tokyo.

World Smart Energy Week 2020 garners 18,509 visitors

The next show will be held in Osaka on 9-11 September.

Investors greenlight 140MW offshore wind farm in Japan

The $930m project is the country's first large-scale offshore wind complex.

Japan's coal consumption to decline even with lacking climate action

The existing coal fleet will reach their end-of-life by 2030s.

Consortium with Chubu Electric wins $1.34b UK transmission link project

The consortium will operate the transmission asset for 25 years.

Japan greenlights upgrades to 825MW Onagawa-2 nuclear reactor

The reactor had suffered from an earthquake previously.

Global Wind Energy Council and Japan's wind power body launch joint task force

The two are looking to launch a study on offshore wind cost reduction in October.

World Smart Energy Week 2020 launches in Tokyo

It implemented measures to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Japan to amend electricity business law

Power companies would be forced to develop plans on working with other bodies during natural disasters.

Japan struggles in transition to competitive auctions

Bids for the fifth solar auction reached 185.6MW even with a 416MW size.

Japan to miss nuclear targets amidst industry headwinds

Nuclear is expected to take up only 8.4% of the power mix, well below the 20-22% target.

Canadian Solar sells Japanese solar power plant for $205m

It also proceeded to start on two solar PV plants in the Fukuoka and Ibaraki prefectures.Canadian Solar completed the sale of Yamaguchi Shin Mine, a 56.3MWp operational solar power plant in the Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan, according to an announcement.Hana Financial Investment, a subsidiary of Hana Financial Group, acquired the solar power plant for an enterprise value of approximately $205m (JPY22.3b). The sale was originally planned to close in the fourth quarter of 2019 but was delayed due to regulatory and contractual obligations required to be met prior to closing the transaction.Yamaguchi Shin Mine reached commercial operation in May 2018 and is powered by Canadian Solar high efficiency modules. The electricity generated is being purchased by Chugoku Electric Power Company, Inc. at the rate of $0.32(JPY 36) per kWh for 20 years.Canadian Solar will continue to provide asset management as well as operational and maintenance services for the plant after the transaction. Additionally, a five-year profit sharing agreement is in place, enabling Canadian Solar to secure additional revenue after the sale should the power plant outperform agreed upon metrics.Two new solar plantsIn a separate announcement, Canadian Solar has started the construction of two solar PV power projects in Japan. The first is a 13.6MWp project in the Ibaraki Prefecture which is expected to generate approximately 15,901MWh each year. The electricity will be purchased by Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO) under a 20-year feed-in-tariff (FIT) contract at the rate of $0.29 (JPY32) per kWh. The company expects the project to reach commercial operation by mid-2021.The second project is a 13.0 MWp project in Fukuoka Prefecture. The plant is expected to generate approximately 15,250 MWh of solar energy each year, which will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20-year FIT contract at the rate of $0.33 (JPY36) per kWh. The project is also expected to reach commercial operation by mid-2021.

Japan utilities' deregulation puts heat on earnings

Ten of the largest utilities have lost 11% of their market share since full deregulation in 2016.