Shizen Energy, a clean energy developer, has announced three new 20-year renewable energy purchase agreements with Microsoft for solar power projects in Japan. This development expands their renewable energy agreements to 100 MW across four solar projects, building on an initial 25 MW agreement in 2023 for a project in Inuyama City, which marked Microsoft’s first power purchase agreement (PPA) in Japan.
The solar power plants involved in these new agreements are situated in Japan’s Kyushu and Chugoku regions. Notably, one of these plants has already commenced operations, while the others are under construction. Shizen Energy confirmed that each project has reached financial close.
In 2021, Microsoft set a “100/100/0 clean energy goal,” aiming to ensure that 100% of its electricity consumption is matched by purchases from zero carbon energy sources by 2030. This is part of Microsoft’s broader commitment to using 100% renewable energy in its buildings and data centres globally by 2025 and becoming carbon negative by 2030.
Rei Ushikubo, Executive Officer of Shizen Energy, expressed honour in signing these long-term agreements with Microsoft and highlighted that securing financing from both domestic and international financial institutions demonstrates the growing presence of Renewable Power Purchase Agreements in the Japanese market. He affirmed the company’s commitment to prioritising power purchase agreements to support clients’ decarbonisation efforts.
