[Tokyo, Japan; 16 October 2024] Vena Energy, a leading green solutions company in the Asia-Pacific region, announced the commercial operation of the 53 MW Kasama Solar Project in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The project will have the capacity to provide clean, renewable energy to over 14,000 households annually. The anticipated annual generation from the project will be equivalent to avoiding approximately 38,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions each year and saving up to 54 million litres of water annually compared to traditional thermal energy generation methods.
Shinju Yamaguchi, Mayor of Kasama City, remarked, “We would like to extend our congratulations on the commencement of operations at the Kasama Solar Project. In Kasama City, we declared a ’Zero Carbon City’ in 2021 and have been actively working towards achieving zero environmental impact, starting with the introduction of renewable energy in the public sector. To strengthen disaster prevention and enhance consultations with the local community related to solar projects, we revised the ‘Ordinance on the Harmonization of Solar Projects and Living Environments in Kasama City’ in 2023 and again this year. These revisions included mandatory agreements with the local community and the submission of environmental impact reports. In this context, we express our gratitude to Vena Energy for their exemplary efforts in building strong relationships with the local community in the Kasama Solar Project area, thoroughly implementing disaster prevention measures, and actively supporting projects related to regional revitalization in our city. We look forward to continued efforts toward the realization of a decarbonized society through appropriate management systems and ongoing cooperation with the community, even after the commencement of operations.”
Raul Rienda, Head of Japan at Vena Energy, remarked, “We are grateful to Ibaraki Prefecture, Kasama City, and our host communities for their support of the Kasama Solar Project. This project plays a crucial role in accelerating the energy transition. Since 2021, we have been actively supporting various projects aimed at establishing a sustainable city for the future, utilizing the corporate hometown tax to contribute to the regional revitalization of Kasama City. In 2023, our contribution was allocated to the operation of the mobile service ‘Moving City Hall,’ which was launched to maintain and improve administrative services amidst a declining population. Moving forward, as a leading company in the renewable energy sector, we are committed to realizing a zero-carbon society while preserving the natural environment and contributing to the local economy.”