In Japan, a 17-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Saga Prefecture will be upgraded with a new battery storage system. The Saga-Ouchi solar facility, which began operations in 2024, is jointly owned by ITOCHU Corporation and Kyudenko Corporation. Each company holds a 50% stake in the project.
The plant currently sells electricity under a 20-year feed-in tariff (FIT) agreement to Kyushu Electric Power Company. The owners now plan to shift the plant to a feed-in premium (FIP) model. This system pays a premium above the market price instead of a fixed tariff. To support this change, a 12 MW / 49.35 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) will be installed at the plant.
The project will use energy storage systems sourced by ITOCHU and will be developed through engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services provided by Kyudenko. The partners stated that the move is aimed at adjusting the plant’s operational model for better alignment with market pricing.
The battery system is expected to help manage the variability of solar energy and improve profitability by storing excess generation and selling it when prices are higher.
In other lesser-known renewable energy initiatives in Japan, a small wind power test site in the Tottori Sand Dunes is operating with a capacity of 300 kilowatts. It is managed by a local research group and is testing blade efficiency in sandy conditions.
In Akita Prefecture, a floating solar power test platform on a man-made reservoir is generating up to 500 kilowatts. The system uses anchored floating panels designed for coastal and inland water surfaces and is operated by a local energy agency.
In Yamaguchi, a community-run microgrid powered by solar panels and backed by a 1 MWh battery storage system supplies electricity to a small rural school and public facility.
