Shift Energy Japan uses solar simulations to weigh project risk

Data services firm Solargis has signed an agreement to provide its satellite-based solar data and PV simulation services to developer Shift Energy Japan (SEJ).

The agreement will see SEJ use Solargis’ simulation services and data to evaluate the feasibility of distributed solar PV projects throughout Japan and Southeast Asia.

Once these projects become operational, SEJ will use Solargis’ solar irradiance data to monitor and assess project performance, delivering operational insights that can be used to boost investor confidence.

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Louis Klépal, deputy general manager of Shift Energy Japan, said in a statement: “It is paramount in our business that we can measure viability and risks associated to investments...Projects must be carried out in a sensible way with scientific insights, which is what Solargis continues to bring to the table throughout the lifespan of our projects.”

Japan's solar market

According to Solargis, Japan has a complex topography that limits solar resource variability. There is also a shortage of available land, making distributed small-scale solar projects critical to C&I customers seeking a clean, reliable energy supply.

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For these reasons, Japanese solar developers and operators need data and software to highlight the feasibility of future projects as well as the potential financial returns of those in operation.

Marcel Suri, CEO at Solargis, commented that "the country’s terrain is unique and requires sophisticated solar data and accurate PV simulations so that investors and lenders can be certain about their current and projected returns.”