Kyocera, Softbank to build mega-solar project in Kyoto

The Kyocera Group and SoftBank Group subsidiary in charge of renewable energy business, SB Energy Corp, have been selected by Kyoto City to build and operate a 4.2-megawatt (MW) solar power plant. The utility-scale solar power plant will be the first of its kind in Kyoto Prefecture, and becomes the largest solar power installation in the prefecture.

Helping Kyoto move toward energy independence, Kyocera Group companies will be in charge of solar module supply, system design and material procurement and the construction of the mega-solar project.

SB Energy will be the operator of the large-scale solar power plant, and aims to have the system operating in time for the start of the new feed-in tariff (FIT) which will go into place on July 1.

Approximately 17,000 Kyocera modules equaling 4.2MW of solar power will be installed at two facilities (2.1MW each) in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City. This will generate roughly 4.2GWh of electricity annually, which is enough to supply power for approximately 1,000 households.

The system will use Kyocera's patented anti-dust modules which have a structure that prevents dust and water from collecting on the surface — by allowing rain water to wash off build-up via drainage channels along the frame of the module (these modules are only available to the Japanese market). This helps prevent the adverse effect of dust build-up on the module's glass surface which decreases the power output.

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