- The 231MW solar farm to be built in Okayama Prefecture will be one of the largest solar power plants in Japan
- GE brings funding, advanced technology and long-term service to the solar project, fully committed to Japan’s solar industry
Tokyo – 21 April – A great number of solar farms presently under development in Japan demonstrates the nation’s enthusiasm to diversify power generation sources and bolster energy security. Thanks to a significant reduction in the solar equipment price, local solar farms are growing in scale so as to better support the nation’s energy demand. Supported by GE, the Setouchi Kirei Solar Power Plant is the latest example of how technologically rich solutions are evolving the industry.
Working with Toyo Engineering Corporation and the renewable energy farm developer, Kuni Umi Asset Management Co. Ltd., GE’s Power Conversion business will supply 94 units of the 1MW Brilliance* Solar Inverter and its SunIQ* platform for the solar farm. Owned by Setouchi Future Creations LLC, the solar farm is to be developed on approximately 260 hectares (1,210 acres) of city land on the former Kinkai salt field. Once in commercial operation in 2019, it will have a total capacity of approximately 231 MW and will become one of the largest solar plants in Japan.
When compared to the majority of installed inverters in the local market, GE’s Brilliance Solar Inverter, with its innovative two-stage configuration, results in higher conversion efficiency, operating range and superior grid performance. The larger capacity satisfies the need of large-scale solar farms by reducing the number of inverters and maintenance work required, ultimately bringing increased reliability. SunIQ provides the SCADA, plant control and remote access and diagnostics.
“So far the local market is still dominated by small size inverters, around 630KW. But GE is able to provide inverters with much larger capacity to satisfy the growing need, offering increased reliability and efficiency. The future of the solar market in Japan requires dependable inverters with high capacity and GE is excited to be part of this growing industry.” said Yoichi Yamaki, regional manager, GE Power Conversion.
GE also signed a 20-year Long-Term Service Agreement (LTSA) with Setouchi Future Creations LLC. The service contract involves the provision of planned and unplanned maintenance of the 1 MW Brilliance inverters and the SUNIQ platform. The service will ensure that the inverters perform at optimal level throughout the 20-year period. Guaranteed up-time availability of the equipment allows the customer to focus on their core business of power generation with minimal disruption. The service provided also includes remote diagnostic capabilities which will greatly reduce the downtime of equipment.
In addition to the technology and service provided, GE supported the capital funding – GE Energy Financial Services holds a 60 percent stake of the approximately $1.1 billion project.
“GE fully embraced the project through capital funding, providing quality equipment and technology, and long-term service. GE’s strong commitment and one-stop shop capability assured us the success of the project,” said Yasuyo Yamazaki, President & CEO, Kuni Umi Asset Management Co. Ltd. “We are pleased to work with GE and be part of the on-going national efforts to diversify energy resources, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy production in Japan.”
About GE Power Conversion
GE’s Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to help drive the electrification of the world’s energy infrastructure by designing and delivering advanced motor, drive and control technologies that evolve today’s industrial processes for a cleaner, more productive future. Serving specialized sectors such as energy, marine, oil and gas, renewables and industry, through customized solutions and advanced technologies, GE Power Conversion partners with customers to maximize efficiency. To learn more, please visit: www.gepowerconversion.com
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t, and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com
