Minato Starts Operation of One of the Largest Solar Power Plants in Japan’s Kanto Area Using Solar Sharing on Agricultural Land

18.07.29

Please be informed that Minato Management Co., Ltd. (headquartered in 1-1-12, Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President (CEO) Tatsuo Kuramoto) started operation of the “Isesaki-Tabei Solar Park” using solar sharing on agricultural land. This is our company’s first project of this kind.

Solar sharing is a solar power generation project for growing crops while generating electricity with pipes and rows of photovoltaic panels on farmland.
This system will contribute not only to promoting agriculture through using farmland systematically and efficiently but also to spreading renewable energy, attracting attention as a model for revitalizing regional economies.
This power plant, with an output of approximately 1.87 MW (DC), uses about 25,000 square meters of agricultural land in Isesaki City in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture and is one of the largest solar power plants using solar sharing on agricultural land in the Kanto area. On the farmland below the power plant, a local agricultural production corporation will grow Japanese ginger. The generated electricity is planned to be sold to TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc. through the Fixed Wholesale Purchase System of Renewable Energy.

This business was developed jointly by Minato Management and Kinki Hokuto Jusetsu (a housing equipment company) Co., Ltd. (headquartered in 2373-1, Hori, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan; President Ryuichi Takagi) with an SPC (special purpose company established for this business) established by Minato Management, which is the sole investor, as the sole business owner.
Kinki Hokuto Jusetsu, tasked with EPC works (engineering, procurement and construction), started construction in March this year. As mentioned above, the plant has been just put into operation.
Omron Field Engineering Co., Ltd. (headquartered in 6-21, Mita 1-chome, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President Katsuhiro Shikata) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the power plant.

With this project as the first shot into this field, through solar sharing investment, Minato Management intends to revitalize regional agriculture and economies and further expand renewable energies as well as make it possible for agriculture and power generation to go together well. Going forward, the company aims to establish a sustainable social infrastructure that is based on regional economies in cooperation with local partners.

[Project Outline]
Name of plant: Isesaki-Tabei Solar Park
Location: Tabei-cho, Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Business development: Minato Management Co., Ltd. and Kinki Hokuto Jusetsu Co., Ltd.
EPC: Kinki Hokuto Jusetsu Co., Ltd.
O&M: Omron Field Engineering Co., Ltd.
Installation area: Approx. 25,000 square meters
Power generation capacity (module capacity): 1.87 MW
Projected annual power generation: Approx. 2,300,000 kWh per year