Blueleaf Energy Japan, a subsidiary of Macquarie Asset Management-backed Blueleaf Energy, launched the environmental impact assessment process for an approximately 50MWAC/100MWDC solar project in Ashibetsu City, Hokkaido.
According to a primary environmental impact consideration document submitted to METI and other stakeholders on August 1, 2025, the company plans to install about 154,000 panels, 650W each, spread across 114.5ha on the site of the former Ashibetsu Coal Mine complex.
The company targets starting construction in 2029, with commercial operation expected in 2031.
Currently, there are no extra high-voltage (2MWAC or larger) renewable projects in the city. However, according to METI data, there are several smaller, FIT-certified solar power plants within the mine complex that were commissioned between 2018 and 2020, including Renewable Japan-affiliated 1MWAC and 1.5MWAC assets.
Blueleaf Energy has been active in Japan since 2021, when it launched Hinode Energy jointly with Univergy International. According to its website, the company had a direct development pipeline of 10 solar and 10 grid-scale battery storage projects totaling about 88.5MWDC and 2GWh as of Q2 2025, respectively, with an additional 194MWDC and 16MWh via the joint venture.
