Shizen Energy donates a portion of revenue from the Otaki Village solar power plant to Otaki Village
On December 7, 2022, Shizen Energy Inc. (Shizen Energy) donated a portion of its revenue from the sale of electricity from its Otaki Village solar power plant to Otaki Village in Nagano Prefecture.
The solar power plant (total output: approx. 2.9 MWp (DC)) owned by Shizen Energy in Otaki Village was developed as a project that contributes to the introduction of renewable energy in the village as an effort to utilize a former ski resort site owned by the village. After a series of discussions with local residents in cooperation with the village, the project site was approved for lease, and construction was completed in November 2021 and electricity sales began. Local companies have cooperated in the construction of this power plant, and Shizen Energy Inc. is responsible for asset management and juwi Shizen Energy Operation Inc. is in charge of O&M (operation and maintenance) for this power plant.
The donation to the village is made in accordance with the “Basic Agreement on Community Contribution Projects” (August 2022) signed between Shizen Energy and Otaki Village, which aims to create a sustainable village, and for Shizen Energy to give back to the village to support educational initiatives and other activities. Shizen Energy will make annual donations to the village until 2039, and the amount of the donation will be determined by the power plant’s revenue from the previous year.
The donation will be used to fund the village’s educational support initiatives, including the “Otaki Village Scholarship Repayment Support Program,” which will begin in fiscal 2023. The Otaki Village Scholarship Repayment Support Program subsidizes a portion (up to 70% of the total amount) of scholarship repayments for those who entered high school or university under the scholarship loan program, and decide to live and work in Otaki Village for five years or longer after graduation.
Although the amount of expected income from the sale of electricity from the Otaki Village solar power plant was not reached due to heavy snowfall last winter and other factors, the donation for this fiscal year will be made in cooperation with the Shizen Foundation in order to promote the sustainable revitalization of the community through educational projects and permanent residency promotion in Otaki village. Shizen Foundation is a General Incorporated Association born out of Shizen Energy’s “1% for Community®” initiative to give back to the community, and this fiscal year’s donation will be conducted through this foundation. From the next fiscal year onward, a portion of the revenue from the sale of electricity from the power plant will be donated as planned.
【Overview of Shizen Energy’s Donation to Otaki Village】
With the company purpose of “We take action for the blue planet,” Shizen Energy aims to expand the use of safe and sustainable electricity by building renewable energy power plants around the world for more people to continue to live happily on this Earth. Shizen Energy will continue to accelerate the realization of a “100% renewable energy world” through the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of high-quality renewable energy power plants rooted to the local community.
【Donation Overview】
Date | December 7, 2022 |
Recipient | Otaki Village, Nagano Prefecture |
Donor | Shizen Energy Inc. note: for this year only, the donation will be made from Shizen Foundation |
Donation | JPY 400,000 |
【About Shizen Energy Inc.】
Founded in June, 2011. With the company purpose of “We take action for the blue planet,” the company’s business includes development, financing, and asset management of renewable energy power plants using solar power, wind power, small-scale hydroelectric power, and biomass. Since 2016, the company has also been focusing on its overseas operations, expanding its development and power generation projects in areas such as Southeast Asia and Brazil. In 2019, the company also entered the energy tech business, offering micro-grid and VPP construction, smart charging and discharging services for EVs, and other services through its self-developed EMS (energy management system). Shizen Energy Group has been involved in more than 1 GW of renewable energy generation in Japan and overseas.
・Headquarters: Fukuoka Ohori Bldg. 3F/6F, 1-1-6 Arato, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
・Representative Directors: Ken Isono, Kenji Kawado, Masaya Hasegawa
・URL: http://www.shizenenergy.net/en/
【About Shizen Foundation】
The Shizen Foundation was established by the three founders of Shizen Energy Inc. for the purpose of achieving the goal of “We take action for the blue planet” in a different approach than the energy business. Specifically, as part of the “1% for Community®” (Shizen Energy Group’s community giving back program), a portion of the revenue from power plants is used to support initiatives that contribute to the development of the communities and businesses that address local issues in which the power plants are located.
・URL：https://shizen-foundation.net/english/
<For inquiries regarding this press release>
Shizen Energy Inc., Public Relations Department
E-mail: se-comm@shizenenergy.net
