In April 2024, a new project conducting test cultivation of wine grapes using solar sharing will start in Sagamihara City.
Here are the details.
About the Test Cultivation of Wine Grapes
This project is undertaken by Sagamiko Farm Co., Ltd., Tama Empower Co., Ltd., Seikatsu Club Consumers' Co-operative Kanagawa, and Seikatsu Club Consumers' Co-operative Tokyo.
Two new solar sharing power generation stations will be constructed in the Aonohara Maedo district of Midori Ward, Sagamihara, and test cultivation of wine grapes will begin on the farmland beneath them.
Test Cultivation of Three Wine Grape Varieties
This business will be conducted under a "non-FIT off-site corporate PPA scheme," where Tama Empower Co., Ltd. serves as the power generation operator and enters into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Seikatsu Club Kanagawa without using the FIT scheme.
For the construction, it was adopted for the first time as an off-site PPA case under the "Fiscal 2023 Kanagawa Prefecture Subsidy for Introduction Costs of Self-Consumption Renewable Energy," and donations were also gathered from the Seikatsu Club Natural Energy Fund and Seikatsu Club members.
As for farming operations, Sagamiko Farm Co., Ltd. will carry out test cultivation of 3 types of wine grapes.
Renewable energy electricity generated by solar panels will be consumed on-site in agricultural greenhouses, achieving the decarbonization of agriculture.
Surplus electricity will be transmitted to the Seikatsu Club Kanagawa distribution center in Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture, contributing to the "local production and local consumption of electricity" within Kanagawa Prefecture.
If you would like to know more, please check the reference section.
References
・Seikatsu Club Kanagawa Official Bulletin "epo" July/August 2023 Issue (Months 7 and 8)
https://kanagawa.seikatsuclub.coop/excludes/kanagawa/img/member/archive/epo20230708.pdf
・Quarterly "Shakai Undo" January 2024
https://cpri.jp/6554/
・New Solar Sharing Initiated (Note Article)
https://note.com/sagamico_farm/n/n071c5df51f5f