Kyocera Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation announced that their joint venture, Kyocera TCL Solar, has completed construction of two floating solar power plants in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

The 1.7 MW floating solar plant at Nishihira Pond and the 1.2 MW plant at Higashihira Pond were built using Kyocera modules fixed to specially developed floating platforms which are attached to the lake-beds. The power plants, inaugurated in late March, are expected to generate an estimated 3,300 MWh annually.

In a previous post we had looked into the benefits of floating solar power plants.

Given Japan's geographical conditions, these floating platforms have been designed to withstand the typhoon conditions they may have to face. As per Kyocera, these platforms are made of high-density polyethylene which can withstand ultraviolet rays, resist corrosion, and are 100% recyclable.

The 1.7 MW installation at Nishihira Pond is possibly the largest floating solar power plant in the world. Not for long though. Kyocera has already announced it plans to build a much larger 13.4 MW floating solar power plant on the Yamakura Dam reservoir in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.