Kyocera has entered a comprehensive partnership agreement with the towns of China-cho (pronounced Chi-na) and Wadomari-cho on Okinoerabu Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, to construct a renewable energy microgrid1. The agreement, completed in September 2021, is designed to support sustainable economic development while reducing carbon emissions on the 93.2km2 island with a population of about 12,000 residents. The microgrid will operate on locally produced renewable energy, using a power-balancing technology to maintain energy supply even during natural disasters.

Comprehensive Partnership Agreement Overview

The three parties will prepare construction plans for the microgrid by March 31, 2022, which will utilize renewable power generation and storage batteries to supply power throughout Okinoerabu Island. After feasibility verification, construction is expected to begin after April 2022. The project has been selected by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) for a subsidy promoting community cooperation through the use of renewable energy.

The microgrid will require no new power lines, instead utilizing the existing power distribution network under license to serve consumers throughout the island. It will generate carbon-free power with a combination of a solar power generation system, wind power generation system, storage batteries, and an energy management system (EMS) that balances power supply and demand.

As a result, the towns of China-cho and Wadomari-cho plan to use renewable energy as their primary power source leveraging the EMS and storage battery technologies to overcome the intermittency of solar and wind solutions and provide consistent power even during emergencies or natural disasters. The parties also plan to create local jobs by establishing a local power company on the island to maintain the microgrid facilities.

Background

The residents of China-cho3 and Wadomari-cho are acutely aware of the need to reduce carbon emissions. The towns currently rely on diesel-fueled power generation that releases a significant amount of greenhouse gases, and their renewable energy deployment remains low. In addition, typhoons and other challenges create frequent power outages on the island – sometimes requiring days to restore – and transportation of liquid fuel for diesel generators is difficult during turbulent weather. The agreement to build a renewable energy microgrid will reduce carbon emissions throughout the island while improving power supply reliability, economic development, and power rates to consumers.