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Aeon Mall Co., Ltd. and Sun Trinity LLC, a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Shikoku Electric Power Company, have officially entered into a comprehensive agreement for an on-site solar corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The groundbreaking initiative involves the installation of carport-type solar power generation equipment, known as “Solar Carports,” with an unprecedented total capacity of approximately 15,000 kilowatts. This installation is set to be the largest of its kind in Japan and will be deployed in the outdoor parking lots of Aeon Mall’s domestic commercial facilities.
The agreement encompasses 12 stores, with one location boasting an impressive installed capacity exceeding 2,400 kilowatts, making it one of the most substantial Solar Carport installations at a single site in Japan. Aeon Mall and Sun Trinity plan to expedite collaboration efforts, aiming to introduce Solar Carports to over 50 Aeon Mall locations across Japan by 2025, with ongoing expansion thereafter.
Solar Carports have gained prominence as an innovative approach to generating renewable energy by leveraging parking lot space for the installation of solar power generation equipment. Not only do they function as sunshades on sunny days and rain shields during inclement weather, enhancing convenience for parking lot users, but they also maximize renewable energy utilization without adversely affecting the natural environment. Despite higher installation costs compared to traditional rooftop solar panels, economies of scale can be achieved by deploying multiple units.
Under this agreement, Aeon Mall is projected to utilize approximately 18 million kilowatt hours of CO2-free renewable energy, equivalent to the power consumption of around 4,300 ordinary households. This aligns with Aeon Mall’s “Aeon Decarbonization Vision,” which aims to transition to locally produced and consumed renewable energy, with a target of a 100% renewable energy ratio at directly managed malls by 2040.
Sun Trinity, as a renewable power generation company, draws on the extensive business knowledge and expertise of its investors, Sumitomo Corporation and Shikoku Electric Power, to provide customers with optimal renewable power solutions. Their goal is to develop a capacity of over 1 GW by 2030.
The Sumitomo Corporation Group has set an ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with a focus on reducing CO2 emissions and expanding the supply of renewable energy. The solar corporate PPA business is a key component of this strategy, contributing to climate change mitigation and the realization of a sustainable society.
The Shikoku Electric Power Group, committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, is actively working towards “low carbon and decarbonization of power sources” as outlined in its Medium-Term Management Plan 2025. The group aims to support carbon neutrality by promoting the use of electrical energy through initiatives such as electrification. |
