Greentech Lead Asia: Upsolar, an international provider of solar PV modules, has expanded its presence in Japan with the completion of two projects including the debut of Upsolar’s smart modules in the country.
The company recently completed a 48-kW system in the city of Anjo. This is the first project in Japan to utilize the company’s smart modules featuring patented power optimization technology from Tigo Energy.
Smart modules enable Upsolar to offer its customers increased system performance while allowing for design flexibility in challenging environments including partially shaded sites. They are equipped with real-time monitoring capabilities, allowing customers to track performance at the module level for greater transparency into their clean energy investments.
In addition, the technology’s PV-Safe function allows for deactivation of the system at the module level, improving overall system safety by eliminating high voltage for emergency or maintenance teams.
Roy Li, representative director for Upsolar Japan, said, “With constraints on the amount of space for solar in Japan—a reported 73 percent of available land is mountainous and/or forested—smart modules offer an ideal solution to achieve top-tier performance with limited resources.”
Upsolar also recently unveiled a 1 MW project in Kyushu. Featuring 4200 UP-M240P polycrystalline modules, the system will power operations for the Mitax Corporation.
Japan is one of the fastest growing solar markets in the world.
Upsolar first entered the Japanese market in 2010, and has since provided modules to several residential, commercial and utility-scale projects nationwide. The company was also selected as a promoted brand by the Kanagawa Solar Banking System, a government initiative to encourage solar energy adoption.
Earlier in June Upsolar completed a 400 kW solar electric system in Vienna, Austria. Featuring Upsolar’s smart module technology powered by Tigo Energy, the rooftop system provides clean energy for operations at the storage facility owned by Vienna’s historic Opera House, Wiener Staatsoper.