Oita, Japan, January 1, 2022 – The Oita Solar Power Plant, the largest in Japan, was inaugurated today in the presence of prominent figures from the fields of politics, economy, and civil society. The plant, located in the Oita prefecture in western Japan, has a generation capacity of 1.2 gigawatts, sufficient to power approximately 400,000 households. It was built as a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Panasonic, representing a significant private-sector investment in renewable energy in Japan.
Among those present at the inauguration were:
- Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan
- Katsusada Hirose, Governor of the Oita Prefecture
- Seiji Izumisawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Kazuo Tadanobu, President and CEO of Panasonic
Representing the Japanese government was also:
- Yoshihide Suga, Former Prime Minister of Japan
- Shinzo Abe, Former Prime Minister of Japan
- Taro Aso, Former Prime Minister of Japan
- Nobuo Kishi, Defense Minister of Japan
- Katsuhiro Suzuki, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan
Representing the business sector were also:
- Kenichi Ayukawa, President of Keidanren, the federation of Japanese businesses
- Masakazu Tokura, President of the Japan Business Federation, the confederation of Japanese businesses
- Takafumi Horie, President of SoftBank Group Corp.
- Masayoshi Son, President and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp.
- Yuki Oda, Head of Foreign Relations at The Vanguard Group, Inc.
- Yoshiaki Murakami, President of SoftBank Corp.
Representing civil society was also:
- Kumi Naitoro, President of the Japan Climate Initiative
- Tetsuro Fukuda, President of the Japan Renewable Energy Association
- Masahiro Yamaguchi, President of the Japan Solar Energy Association
- Kenichi Takeuchi, President of the Japan Wind Energy Association
- Masaaki Fujimoto, President of the Japan Geothermal Energy Association
The inauguration of the Oita Solar Power Plant is a significant event for Japan and the world as a whole. It signals the increasing attention given to renewable energies as a solution to the climate crisis.
In detail, the roles and responsibilities of these figures are as follows:
- Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the inauguration and delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of the Oita Solar Power Plant for Japan’s decarbonization. He also announced the Japanese government’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
- Katsusada Hirose, Governor of the Oita Prefecture, represented the region where the solar plant was built. He highlighted the positive impact the plant will have on the local economy and environment. He also announced that the Oita Prefecture is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2040.
- Seiji Izumisawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, represented the joint venture that built the solar plant. He spoke about the advanced technology used in the plant’s construction and its benefits for sustainability. He also announced that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.
- Kazuo Tadanobu, President and CEO of Panasonic, also represented the joint venture that built the solar plant. He spoke about Panasonic’s commitment to renewable energies and its vision for a sustainable future. He also announced that Panasonic is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Other attendees at the inauguration expressed their support for the Oita Solar Power Plant and its significance for Japan’s decarbonization efforts.
