Fukushima

EDPR expands its presence in Japan, starting with 44 MWp solar farm in Fukushima

Tuesday 02, July 2024
2 min reading time

EDP Renewables (EDPR), a global leader in renewables, is expanding its presence in Japan, starting with a 44 MWp solar farm in Fukushima. This is part of EDPR’s 2024–2026 Business Plan comprising a €12 billion investment strategy in renewables. 

The ground-mounted utility-scale solar photovoltaic system will span 60 hectares of land in Fukushima Prefecture and will contain more than 63,000 solar panels. It is expected to generate over 47GWh of electricity annually equivalent to offsetting approximately 20,586 metric tonnes of carbon emissions* or powering more than 11,800 households in Japan annually. The solar farm is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2025.

EDPR has ambitious plans to establish itself as an enabler of Japan’s renewable energy sector through the development of a project pipeline of more than 200 MW till 2026, directly contributing towards the country’s renewable energy targets. Beyond solar, EDPR’s renewables strategy mix in Japan also includes battery energy storage system (BESS). The company aims to increase its portfolio of BESS projects to mitigate the variability of power production as renewable installations accelerate.

“We are excited by the opportunity presented by Japan’s green transformation strategy and ambitious clean energy targets. Japan is a strategic growth area for EDPR within our broader APAC platform – it offers a clear route-to-market, regulatory stability, robust climate targets, and holds promising potential to maximize value in renewables. With Japan’s strong public support for renewable energy, significant government investment, and innovative advancements in solar and wind technologies, we are fully committed to accelerating Japan’s energy transition and contributing to the country’s goal of a 38% renewable share by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Supporting markets in APAC in their shift towards renewable energy remains at the heart of our mission,” commented Miguel Fonseca, CEO of EDP Renewables APAC.

The commitment not only marks EDPR’s expansion in the Japanese market but also accelerates the development of renewable energy in Japan, fostering economic growth and job creation. Additionally, the company is dedicated to fast-tracking APAC’s energy transition, with the aim of achieving at least 5GW of installed renewables capacity in the region by 2030, committing as a company to go Net Zero by 2040.

*Using Japan’s grid emission factor 0.000438 ton-CO2/kWh, Ministry of Environment 2022