Tokyo Century to convert 20MW Kirishima solar to FIP, add 15MW/60MWh BESS around January 2027
June 27, 2025
The solar power plant was commissioned in April 2024. (Image: Tokyo Century)
Kyocera TCL Solar, a joint venture between Tokyo Century and Kyocera, plans to commission a 15MW/60MWh battery storage system at its 20MWAC/25.1MWDC Kagoshima Kirishima Mega Solar Power Plant and convert the asset from the feed-in-tariff (FIT) to the feed-in-premium (FIP) scheme around January 2027, Tokyo Century announced on June 27, 2025.
According to the statement, construction of the BESS began earlier this month. Kyudenko is handling engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC). The project was selected as one of the recipients of METI’s FY2024 subsidy for co-located BESS projects.
The existing solar project, commissioned in April 2024, was FIT-certified in FY2013 and is under a 36 yen per kWh contract valid until September 2041. It was also built by Kyudenko.
Kagoshima Kirishima is set to become Kyocera TCL Solar’s second FIT-to-FIP converted solar power plant with co-located BESS. It will follow the 2MWAC/2.5MWDC Kumamoto Arao Mega Solar project, which was commissioned in March 2015 under FIT and converted to FIP following the addition of a 3MWh BESS in June 2024.
Kyocera TCL Solar’s move highlights the potential for improving returns of FIT assets in Kyushu, which has been the region most affected by economic curtailment. According to METI’s FIT/FIP database, the company owns 13 additional operational projects in the area totaling 56.4MW, suggesting potential for further conversions.
