Kyocera Corporation announced today that Kyocera TCL Solar LLC has commenced construction of a 23MW solar power plant on an abandoned golf course in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The plant will generate an estimated 26,312MWh per year — enough electricity to power approximately 8,100 typical local households.
Overdevelopment of golf properties during the real-estate boom of the 1990's and 2000's has led to hundreds of idle courses today that are now under analysis for repurposing or redevelopment. Many of these properties are now being reconsidered as sites for new housing development, parkland and a wide range of other commercial uses, including solar farms. Solar can provide a particularly productive and environmentally friendly use for defunct golf courses, which are characterized by expansive land mass, high sun exposure, and a low concentration of shade trees.
The new plant will become the largest solar power installation in Japan's Kyoto Prefecture. The site is located in Fushimi Ward. Through projects like this, Kyocera hopes to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy and the development of a sustainable, low-carbon society.