自然電力グループ

Shizen Energy Inc.(Shizen Energy), Summit Energy Corporation (Summit Energy) and Bourbon Corporation (Bourbon) signed a corporate PPA based on an off-site PPA model for the supply of renewable energy derived from solar power and power supply to five Bourbon factories in Niigata Prefecture began on April 1, 2024.

Under this PPA, electricity will be generated by four new solar power plants in Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures with a total capacity of 6.7 MW (DC), jointly developed by Shizen Energy and Shizen Energy’s partner Bison energy. The electricity will be supplied to Bourbon’s five factories in Niigata Prefecture by Summit Energy, a retail electricity company. Electricity used by Bourbon’s factories that is not covered by the PPA will be supplied by Bourbon’s existing retail electricity supplier.

Bourbon is committed to reducing CO₂ emissions as part of its sustainability efforts, and this initiative is expected to contribute to a reduction of approximately 3,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The Kashiwazaki Matsunami solar power plant in Niigata Prefecture is already in operation, supplying electricity to Bourbon’s factories, and power plants under construction will begin supplying electricity when completed.

Scheme diagram

Power plant overview 

Photo: Kashiwazaki Matsunami Solar Power Plant

*1 PPA (Power Purchase Agreement): a contractual scheme whereby a power producer installs, owns, and manages power generation facilities at its own expense, and provides and sells the power generated by those facilities to consumers on a long-term basis. On-site PPA refers to the direct provision and sale of electricity from the generating facilities on the roof or adjacent land of the customer’s facility, while off-site PPA refers to the provision and sale of electricity from remote generating facilities to the customer’s facility through the power grid.

【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 international 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 internationally.
　・Headquarters: Fukuoka Ohori Bldg. 1-1-6 Arato, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka 　
　・Representative Directors: Ken Isono, Kenji Kawado, Masaya Hasegawa
　・URL: https://www.shizenenergy.net/en/

【About Bison energy Group】
Founded in 2016, Bison energy is a leading renewable energy generation company with operations in East Asia and Oceania and Europe. Bison energy is committed to creating a sustainable society by providing clean, green energy through the global development and investment in environmentally friendly renewable energy projects.
　・URL：https://www.bisonenergy.net/

【About Summit Energy Corporation】
Since 2001, Summit Energy provides electricity to its customers through comprehensive operation of power generation, supply-demand management, and power retail. The company will contribute to reducing environmental impact by further increasing the handling volume of renewable energy, and to increasing the stability of the power system by aggregating power from diverse renewable energy resources, efficiently regulating, and distributing to customers.
　・Headquarters: S-GATE Otemachi Kita 9F/10F, 2-3-4 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
　・President and CEO: Masashi Kobayashi
　・URL：https://www.summit-energy.co.jp (Japanese) 

【About Bourbon Corporation】
In November 1924, Kichizo Yoshida, a Japanese confectioner in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, established Kitanihon Seika after seeing the Great Kanto- Earthquake bring to halt the supply of confectionery to its regional areas. In 1989 the company changed its name to Bourbon Corporation after its well-known brand, aiming to become a company that takes on global challenges from Niigata Prefecture. The company celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024. Bourbon develops, manufactures and sells cookies, chocolates, rice crackers, candies and other confectionery products, as well as beverages, food products and frozen desserts with the tagline “Great taste, Made with Love, Always.”.
　・Headquarters:  1-3-1 Ekimae, Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture
　・President: Yasushi Yoshida
　・URL：https://www.bourbon.co.jp