Softbank to build demo solar plants

Softbank Corp. will build three demonstration solar power plants in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

The plant in Obihiro city has a size of 3,000-square meters and a capacity of 100 kilowatts.

The company will use solar panels made by domestic and foreign producers including Kyocera Corp. and Canadian Solar Inc., Softbank spokesman Naoki Nakayama said.

Softbank plans to start work on two more plants this month which will together have 50 kilowatts of capacity in Tomakomai city, Hokkaido, he said.

Softbank plans to collect data on power generation efficiency from the demonstration plants, Nakayama said.

Softbank Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son has become an advocate of renewable energy with plans to invest as much as 20 billion yen or $256 million with partners in a company to develop clean-energy projects.

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