Monthly Report

KDDI partners with Gunma Prefecture to develop 17.4MW of solar on public premises

November 21, 2024
KDDI
KDDI will both supply the generated power to Gunma Prefecture and use it at its own facilities. (Image: KDDI)

On November 15, 2024, Gunma Prefecture and KDDI Group companies including au Renewable Energy signed a partnership agreement through which the latter will develop solar power plants totaling 17.4MW across 21 locations owned by the prefecture.

Of the power plants to be constructed, 19 will be at public facilities operated by the prefecture including two sports centers, a rehabilitation center, a labor welfare center, and 15 high schools. The remaining two power plants will be constructed on unused land owned by the prefecture including an unused plot of land at the rehabilitation center and the former site of a beef cattle breeding center.

The power plants at the public facilities are expected to total 4.6MW and generate 7GWh per year. KDDI will sell the generated power to Gunma Prefecture through a PPA. The power will be used at each facility with excess power being used at other facilities owned by the prefecture.

The two standalone power plants are expected to total 12.8MW and generate 26GWh per year. According to the statement, the power they will generate will be “supplied to KDDI facilities within the prefecture and elsewhere. We will strive to use the power locally as much as possible.” KDDI will rent the land from the prefecture.

KDDI plans to commission the PPA-related power plants around March 2026, the smaller of the two standalone power plants, which will be built on unused land at the rehabilitation center, around February 2026, and the larger of standalone power plants around February 2029. It plans to finish the required legal procedures for the two standalone power plants by around May 2025 and October 2026, respectively.

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