Kagoshima, in southern Japan, is known for its puffing volcano Sakurajima, green tea, and rocket launchpads. Now it has a new superlative — the country’s largest solar plant.
Smartphone maker Kyocera recently launched the Kagoshima Nanatsujima Mega Solar Power Plant, a 70-megawatt facility that can generate enough electricity to power about 22,000 homes.
The move comes as Japan struggles with energy sources as nuclear power plants were shut down after meltdowns hit Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima plant in 2011.
It has 290,000 solar panels and takes up about 314 acres, roughly three times the total area of Vatican City. (…) A Japanese government program that began in 2012 compels utilities to buy 100 percent of electricity from certain renewable energy power plants.
Check out the Japanese promo ad from Kyocera in the vid below.
By Tim Hornyak, Cnet News;
