Canadian Solar converts abandoned land into a 100-MWp solar projectHBKU's QEERI continues professional data-driven support to Al Kharsaah solar plantCanadian Solar converts abandoned land into a 100-MWp solar project

Canada-headquartered Canadian Solar announced its 100-MWp Azuma Kofuji solar project located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, recently reached commercial operation. It is Canadian Solar's largest project in Japan and Fukushima Prefecture's largest solar project in operation to date. The solar project, spanning 460 acres, will supply electricity to the utility Tohoku Electric Power Company at $0.26 per kWh under Japan's feed-in-tariff program for over 18 years. It is expected to generate 106,800 MWh of clean energy to power approximately 31,000 households and cut down over 50,000 metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually. It is worth mentioning that Azuma Kofuji was constructed on previously abandoned agricultural land. Canadian Solar "worked closely with the local communities and government in the land conversion process and successfully passed the Environmental Impact Assessment monitored by the Fukushima Prefecture," said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar. It demonstrates how the public and private sectors can collaborate closely to help reinvigorate the local community and economy.

"We are proud to take part in rebuilding economic and energy resilience in the Fukushima hometowns while supporting Japan's 2050 carbon neutrality ambitions," added Dr. Qu.

So far, Canadian Solar has over 470 MWp of utility-scale solar projects in Japan that are either in operation or under construction, and two partnership platforms in the Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund and Japan Green Infrastructure Fund. Driven by our differentiated technology and massive manufacturing scale, Canadian Solar has become one of the first-tier solar companies in Japan's solar market. The Azuma Kofuji project utilizes Canadian Solar's HiKu series PV modules. Its long-term operations and maintenance will be performed by Canadian Solar's local subsidiary. It will also donate part of its revenues to support local agricultural sector activities in Fukushima City.

Cambodia's National Solar Park adds 60 MW to grid

Phase I of the National Solar Park in Cambodia, with a capacity of 60 MW, recently completed construction and connected to the national grid, reaching a record-low price for utility-scale, grid-connected solar PV in Southeast Asia at $0.039 per kWh. The tender was organized in 2019 and awarded to renewable energy projects developer Prime Road Alternative. The National Solar Park is built upon the partnership between the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), Cambodia's national power utility. It is regarded as a convincing example demonstrating the potential to develop cost-effective large-scale solar PV in Cambodia by uniting the public and private sectors.

Phase II of the solar park, which totals 40 MW, was tendered in 2020 and awarded to Trina Solar with another record-low price of $0.026 per kWh. Jointly, National Solar Park will reach its designed total capacity of 100 MW. ADB has contributed to Cambodia's electrification and clean energy transition for many years. It was an early power in helping Cambodia increase its household electricity access from 17% in 2008 to almost 90% in 2021 while also helping reduce electricity costs nationwide, according to Keo Rottanak, a management member at EDC. With ADB's continued support, Cambodia has established the necessary conditions for a cleaner and more sustainable energy transition. The country recently approved the Power Development Masterplan (2021­–2040), covering an inspiring goal of increasing solar PV capacity to 1,000 MW by 2030 and 3,000 MW by 2040.

Solar generation will need to be a key part of Cambodia's efforts to expand access to affordable power while also transitioning to cleaner energy.

—said Masatsugu Asakawa, President of ADB, in a recent statement.

Commenting on the National Solar Park project, Asakawa added: "ADB is pleased to have supported the establishment of the National Solar Park, which is a landmark project not only for Cambodia but for all of Southeast Asia."

JA Solar supplies 116-MW modules for a single-axis tracking PV project

A 116-MW solar power plant in Terengganu on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia recently announced operations, becoming the country's largest single-axis tracking PV project. Spanning an area of roughly 600 hectares, the solar plant will generate 220 million kWh of clean energy and power 200,000 local households annually. Meanwhile, it will reduce standard coal consumption by 80,000 tons and carbon emissions by 200,000 yearly.

Contracted by China's PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited (Huadong Engineering), this solar plant selects JA Solar as the sole solar module supplier. It utilizes JA Solar's DeepBlue 3.0 bifacial double-glass modules, whose cumulative shipments worldwide have reached over 24 GW within two years since its launch in 2020. Malaysia is one of the most successful oversea markets for JA Solar. The company has supplied high-efficiency modules for multiple renowned projects, including Malaysia's first floating PV power plant, bifacial-plus-trackers project, etc. Last year, the company's local PV market share exceeded 50%. JA Solar continues to expand its footprint worldwide through constant technical research and innovation. Built upon its DeepBlue 3.0, JA Solar launched its first n-type PV module DeepBlue 4.0 X in May this year, with higher conversion efficiency, power output and reliability. The company has also established a close partnership with Huadong Engineering in recent years. The accumulated capacity scale realized by the alliance has achieved more than 2 GW.

Avantus & Allianz Capital Partners complete the sale of 147-MWdc Galloway 2 solar project

Avantus announced it has completed the sale of the 147-megawatt (MWdc) Galloway 2 Solar Project in Concho County, Texas, to Allianz Capital Partners, one of the Allianz Group's asset managers for alternative equity investments. Galloway 2 will not only produce enough affordable solar energy to power 60,000 people but bring about many benefits to the local economy, jobs and education. The project is expected to generate over $18 million in local property taxes, more than half of which will benefit the Paint Rock Independent School District directly. Meanwhile, Galloway 2 will also support good-paying jobs and increased economic benefits for Concho County and local public services.

Everyone—from large corporations and international investors to small business owners and local communities—is recognizing the benefits that solar energy can bring.

—said Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, Founder and CEO of Avantus.

"Projects like Galloway 2 are a critical demonstration that solar is an affordable, zero-carbon energy solution to strengthen the grid, showing our nation can prioritize and uplift our communities while meeting our climate commitments on the global stage," added Buttgenbach. Galloway 2 is Avantus' third greenfield-developed project to reach construction in Texas, where the company has already brought 600 MWdc of solar online. Spanning more than 90 utility-scale projects across Texas and the Southwest, Avantus' development pipeline exceeds 50 GW of system capacity, including 42 GW of solar and 78 GWh of energy storage. Overall, it represents over $70 billion in investments and is large enough to provide power for more than 30 million people, day and night.

Commenting on the cooperation with Avantus, Daniel de Boer, Head of Renewables Americas at Allianz Capital Partners, said:

As one of the world's largest infrastructure and renewable energy investors, we are thrilled to announce this transaction, which meaningfully advances our mission to accelerate renewables deployment globally.

The sale of Galloway 2 is the second transaction between Avantus and Allianz Global Investors. Avantus retains a minority stake in Galloway 2 and will continue to oversee procurement, construction and asset management. Avantus previously secured a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with EDF Energy Services, which is supplying the power to BASF under its commercial and industrial retail power business.