NSG Group entered into a long-term purchase agreement for renewable energy from solar panels. The panels are being installed at the Group’s plant in Maizuru, Japan. The move is the first onsite solar project in the country.

Group officials said 3,064 solar panels with a 1.15-megawatt peak (MWp) capacity are being installed on unused land at the Maizuru plant. First Solar Inc. manufactured the panels. They contain transparent conductive oxide glass made by NSG, using its proprietary coating technology.

The solar panels are being installed and operated by BayWa r.e. Japan. Construction began in early March. The facility will be operational in October 2024. Officials said NSG will purchase 90% of the electricity generated over a period of 25 years at a contracted fixed price. The facility is expected to supply 1,411MW of renewable energy annually, with a carbon reduction effect of about 541 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Officials explained that the solar panels will reduce carbon emissions for NSG and promote sustainability in manufacturing. They added that the introduction of onsite power purchase agreements using idle land, such as at Maizuru, will help stabilize the procurement of renewable energy for the medium to long term.