Banpu Power showcases post-disaster contribution to Fukushima
Banpu Power Public Company Limited (BPP), a major supplier of both conventional and renewable energy across the Asia-Pacific region, recently received a research team from the US to its solar power plant in Fukushima, Japan.
During the visit, Wataru Shima, chief executive officer of Banpu Power (Japan)/Tokyo branch presented the Fukushima prefecture recovery plan through renewable power generation to Associate Teaching Professor Jessica McManus Warnell and researchers from the Department of Management and Organisation, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame.
The team also visited Nari Aizu Solar Power Plant to collect data for their research project on "Energy, Justice, and Fukushima."
Banpu Power's Nari Aizu Solar Farm has contributed to the economic and community development of Fukushima, in line with the Japanese government's policy to promote renewable energy after the earthquake and Tsunami incidents in 2011.
The power plant supplies Fukushima with solar-powered electricity, generated with cutting-edge eco-friendly technologies. It is also the first power plant to have entered into the Agreement on Supplying Power from Emergency Power Supply at Disaster with the Aizu Wakamatsu municipality, which guarantees power reserve for the nearby communities.
"Our team is very impressed with the dedication of Banpu Power in integrating solar power generation in the disaster-affected area, which yielded an awe-inspiring landscape. It is a good model showing a striking harmony between the deployment of modern technologies and preserving a pristine natural environment. We could also sense the collaboration among the company, local leaders, and local people. So, we are looking forward to learning more from Banpu Power's community development model based on its renewable energy operation," Associate Teaching Professor Warnell said.
"Banpu Power is committed to being a good corporate citizen in every country where we operate. We have taken part in the Fukushima prefecture recovery plan since 2014 when we started the development of a 26 MW Nari Aizu Solar Power Plant. From the beginning, we visited the community and listened to the locals’ opinions; we found that power shortage during a disaster was their top concern. And as we always prioritise stable and reliable power supply, we installed the emergency power supply system direct from our solar power plant to provide uninterrupted power supply during disasters," Shima said.
Earlier, Banpu Power had provided aid to the Mukawa community in Hokkaido, which suffered total power blackout after an earthquake. The company delivered five portable solar power generators worth Bt850,000 ($27,500) to the community to provide renewable power for the residents in both normal times, and when a disaster strikes.
Banpu Power currently has 13 solar power plants and projects in Japan with a total of 233.57 MW equity-based power generation capacity, including five power plants that already achieved Commercial Operation Date (COD). The company targets an additional 300 MW of renewable capacity by 2025.
Sutee Sukruan, chief executive officer of Banpu Power Public Company Limited, said, “Banpu Power’s renewable power generation capacity in Japan plays a crucial role in driving the company’s growth according to the Greener & Smarter Strategy. The company plans to increase capacity to over 4,300 MWe, with a minimum of 20 per cent share of renewables by 2025. Banpu Power’s management and employees feel honoured that the US research team recognised our unwavering dedication to the recovery of Fukushima Prefecture. The effort not only reflects our good relationships with the community and local government, but is also aligned with Banpu Power’s policy to strike a balance between business growth and community, social and environmental development in every location where we operate.”
