Ciel & Terre Japan installs Tokushima's first floating PV power plant

Feb 07, 2017

The French group Ciel & Terre’s Japanese subsidiary, Ciel Terre Japan (headquartered in Tokyo) has developed a floating PV power plant on Isawa Pond,in Awa City, in October, 2016, which is the first of its kind for Tokushima Prefecture. The company completed the project to construct the floating PV power plant supported by local entities that are interested in renewable energy projects, such as Tokushima Prefecture and Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc. The company’s floating PV platform (HYDRELIO®) is a patent technology that makes solar power generation possible with PV panels installed onto these floating units. The major benefits from this system include effective usage of water surfaces, reduction of water evaporation, and higher electricity production due to the water’s cooling effect  refreshing the panels.

The company provides its technology Hydrelio® all over Japan, with a total installed capacity of 48MW equal to more than 30 PV farms (as of January 2017). While land suitable for mega solar systems is limited, Japan is dotted with many irrigation ponds and reservoirs. The company aims to develop these countless opportunities, and implement new floating PV systems across the entire country.

The JETRO Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC) has been offering support to Ciel & Terre, since the establishment of its Japanese subsidiary. Indeed, JETRO IBSC has provided market information, consultation on labor affairs, assistance for PR activities and business matching,