Osaka Gas, Mitsubishi, Sharp plan solar power generation in Canada

Under the 35 billion yen project, their joint firm will install solar power generation facilities at nine sites by the end of 2013 for a total capacity of some 100,000 kilowatts to cover supply to 10,000 households.

The joint firm will be owned 44.95 percent each by Osaka Gas and Mitsubishi, and 10.1 percent by Sharp.

Ontario is suitable for the solar power generation project as it is rich with solar energy and has introduced a feed-in tariff system to purchase electricity generated with renewable energy sources at fixed tariff rates, Osaka Gas said.

Electricity from the project will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority over 20 years.

Osaka Gas and Sharp plan to take advantage of experience with the Ontario project for developing solar power plants in Japan.