Toshiba to participate in solar energy photovoltaic and wind energy generation project in Tahara

The "Tahara solar photovoltaic and wind power generation joint project" proposes to construct a 50MW photovoltaic power plant and a 6 MW wind farm plant on a coastal site in Tahara, Aichi prefecture, in central Honshu, owned by Mitsui Chemicals. The total cost of the project is estimated at approximately 18 billion yen and construction is scheduled to start in June 2012, subject to the results of a feasibility study.

Toshiba has won orders for eight major mega solar projects in Japan. At this point, Toshiba will draw on this experience to undertake the basic design, overall engineering, supply of major equipment and construction for Takahara.

Expertise Toshiba will bring to the project will range from measures to protect the site from natural disasters; including soil liquefaction caused earthquakes, to provision of advanced equipment. This will include Toshiba’s 500kW power conditioner, which achieves a 97.7% conversion efficiency*1, the highest in the industry.

In carrying out the project, the consortium members will share know-how and information, toward developing optimum solutions and to promote wider application of renewable energy sources.

With the gathering momentum of efforts to mitigate climate change, the global solar energy market for utility and industrial use is expected to reach 2,200 billion yen by 2015. Toshiba will support this trend by contributing to mega solar power generation projects in Japan and overseas.

Outline of Tahara solar photovoltaic and wind power generation project
Name: Tahara solar photovoltaic and wind power generation project
Consortium: Mitsui Chemicals Inc.(leading company), Toshiba Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Toagosei Co., Ltd., Toray Industries, Inc., Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Capacity: Solar photovoltaic power generation project: 50MW
Wind power generation project: 6MW
Location: Midorigahama, Tahara Aichi prefecture (a site approximately 820,000 square meters, equal to 17 times as large as Tokyo dome)
Investment: Approximately 18 billion yen
Construction: Start from June 2012. Completion by September 2013.

Project Period: 18 years. Subject to adjustment in light of conditions defined by the government for the acquisition by utilities of electricity from renewable sources in the "Law on Special Measures Concerning Procurement of Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity by Electric Utilities," which will be finalized by the 1st half of 2012.