J-POWER’s J-Wind Co., Ltd. and KDDI Corporation have signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for an onshore wind farm. The agreement covers the Minami Osumi Wind Farm in Minami Osumi Town, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. J-POWER announced that J-Wind will upgrade the existing wind farm and build a new 19,500-kilowatt wind facility, called the New Minami Osumi Wind Farm. Under the agreement, the environmental value generated from power production will be supplied to KDDI for 20 years once commercial operations begin.
Japan is working on several renewable energy projects to expand its energy mix. A floating offshore wind power project is being developed off the coast of Goto City in Nagasaki Prefecture. This pilot project aims to test floating wind turbine technology in deep waters, where conventional fixed-bottom wind turbines cannot be installed. The demonstration facility has a planned capacity of 22 MW and is expected to provide data for future offshore wind development in Japan.
In Tottori Prefecture, a solar-sharing initiative is combining solar power generation with agriculture. The project installs solar panels above farmland, allowing crops to be grown underneath while generating electricity. This dual-use approach supports both renewable energy production and farming. The project has an installed capacity of 1 MW and provides electricity to the local grid.
Ehime Prefecture is expanding its biomass power generation with a new plant using locally sourced wood chips. Biomass power plants in the region utilize forestry waste to generate electricity. The latest facility has an installed capacity of 50 MW and is designed to support local industries by creating demand for wood-based fuel.
Hokkaido’s volcanic activity makes it a suitable location for geothermal power. Existing geothermal plants in Japan have a total installed capacity of over 500 MW, and new developments are being considered to increase this capacity.
