Sumitomo to develop solar power project in Osaka, Japan

Japanese firm Sumitomo Corporation has partnered with six other companies to develop the Osaka Hikari-no-mori Project (the Osaka Forest of Light Project) in Osaka, Japan.

The mega-solar power generation project will soon commence at Hokko Landfill Site in in Yume-shima, which contains ash from household trash combustion.

In 2010, the city of Osaka sought proposals for methods to effectively utilize the site. Consequently, Sumitomo and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance & Leasing’s joint proposal was accepted.

The six other companies in the consortium the Solar-power Group Share, include Jupiter Telecommunications, Sumitomo Electric Industries, DAIHEN Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Rengo and NTT Facilities.

Sumitomo expects to complete the project and begin operations by October 2013; Summit Energy will provide facility management.

The 10MW project, having capacity equivalent to power 3,200 households, will cover an area of 15ha at Hokko Landfill Site. It will supply electricity to Kansai Electric Power.

Following the conclusion of a project agreement with Osaka, Sumitomo will begin preliminary investigations in November 2012.

Moreover, companies seeking urban renewable energy promotion and environmental protection are also invited to participate in the project.

Contributing companies will gain 500KW share each in the solar power generation facilities.