Microsoft Azure: Microsoft, Shizen Energy sign 20-year solar PPA

Shizen Energy Inc. announced its latest 20-year virtual VPPA with Microsoft to supply renewable energy from a 25MWac solar farm in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture. This agreement between both companies marks Microsoft’s first PPA in Japan. Sizen is also constructing a solar farm, which will reportedly be the largest single-asset solar power plant contracted under a virtual corporate PPA in Japan. 

Adrian Anderson, general manager of renewable and carbon-free energy at Microsoft, said, “Shizen Energy’s expertise and presence in the Japanese market is enabling our first renewable energy purchase in Japan, and it’s great to see near-term supply for our 100 percent renewable energy goal. A commercial structure like this is important to promoting grid decarbonization in the country.”

Oliver Senter, executive officer of Shizen Energy responsible for investment & strategy, said, “The Inuyama project represents the strongest elements of Shizen Energy Group, from years of local development through to construction, and also PPA arrangement with an innovative and international financial scheme. We look forward to enabling more projects with a similar structure as we increasingly focus on PPA projects to support our customers to decarbonize in Japan, Asia, and the Americas.”