SMFL MIRAI Partners and Shizen Energy Jointly Acquire Company Operating a Total of 18.6MW Floating Solar Power Plants
Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited’s strategic subsidiary, SMFL MIRAI Partners Company, Limited (SMFL MIRAI Partners) and Shizen Energy Inc. (Shizen Energy) are pleased to announce the joint acquisition of Suiden Mizuumi Ichi Corporation (Suiden Mizuumi Ichi), a company which operates 12 floating solar power plants, owned by the French floating solar power pioneer Ciel et Terre Group.
The power plants operated by Suiden Mizuumi Ichi are floating solar power plants that the Ciel & Terre Group commenced operations between 2016 and 2021. These plants are uniquely installed on agricultural reservoirs. They include six locations in the Shikoku region, three in the Kansai region, two in the Chugoku region, and one in the Chubu region. The total generation capacity is 18,614 kW, with an annual electricity output of approximately 21.84 million kWh, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 5,200 average households.
As of the end of September 2024, SMFL MIRAI Partners owns 864 MW of solar power plants and Shizen Energy has been involved in the development of over 1 GW of renewable energy in Japan and is advancing development in 10 countries and regions internationally. SMFL MIRAI Partners and Shizen Energy acquired Suiden Mizuumi Ichi by utilizing the renewable energy expertise that both companies have cultivated. This is the first time that both companies have acquired a floating solar power plant.
In Japan, there are 150 thousand agricultural reservoirs nationwide, which are considered promising new sites for solar power generation. The potential for floating solar power facilities is estimated at approximately 39GW*, and further deployment is expected. SMFL MIRAI Partners and Shizen Energy aim to leverage the knowledge gained through this initiative to expand their floating solar power business and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality.
The SMFL Group is engaged in various renewable energy generation businesses, including solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower, as well as CO2-free power supply through onsite and offsite generation projects and energy-saving support services. In addition, the group provides financing services, including leasing, for renewable energy and energy-saving equipment. Moving forward, the SMFL Group will continue to contribute to achieving a decarbonized society by offering one-stop solutions that support companies’ decarbonization initiatives.
Shizen Energy provides decarbonization solutions, including the development, EPC (engineering, procurement and construction), O&M (operation and maintenance), and asset management of renewable energy facilities, as well as the creation and sale of environmental value and the long-term supply of renewable energy through corporate PPAs. In the energy tech business, the Shizen Energy Group uses its own energy management system (EMS) to provide services such as building microgrids and virtual power plants (VPPs) and EV charging and discharging services. The Shizen Energy Group continues to accelerate its efforts to achieve its purpose of “taking action for the blue planet”.
*Source: NEDO White Paper on Renewable Energy
Gotandaike Solar Power Plant (Okayama Prefecture)
