IBC SOLAR receives EPC license in Japan

IBC SOLAR AG has announced that it shall further  expand its project business within the Japanese market. The company, which has been active as a project developer in Japan for several years,  has now applied for the official EPC license. Upon the granting of the  license, IBC SOLAR will be one of the few internationally-active EPC  companies officially licensed to build large-scale turnkey projects in
Japan through its own local corporation. IBC SOLAR expects the licensing  in July 2016.

This enables the company to expand its range of services within the  Japanese market. “We are happy to make an even bigger contribution to  the Japanese energy transition with the EPC license. The change in the  political climate in recent years, as well as related funding programmes  and feed in tariffs, are making Japan a very interesting market  economically”, says Harald Bultmann, Director EPC International.

Besides the presence of a local office and the submission of an official  application to the relevant authorities, the requirements for a license  state that the employment of licensed engineers who have obtained  specific qualifications only available in Japan is necessary.  Furthermore, they have to demonstrate ten years of professional  experience. There are also requirements relating to the reliability and  financial solidity of the company.

So far, IBC SOLAR has already implemented its first few projects as an  EPCM contractual partner, such as a 2.3 MWp solar power plant in Sakura  (north of Tokyo). While in this particular model a local construction  partner is required to take on responsibility for the construction, IBC  SOLAR is now able not only to develop PV projects but to realise the  construction of turnkey projects by itself thanks to the new license.  Throughout 2016, the company plans to finalise solar projects which will have a total capacity of 20 MW. In order to reach this goal, IBC SOLAR  will be working closely with local subcontractors on a long-term basis.

This new step into the Japanese market is a useful extension of the PV  specialist’s offerings: the focus is on sophisticated solutions, and  ranges from front-end engineering and the national and international  procurement of quality components, right up to levelling of surface  areas and to full installation. IBC SOLAR specialises in smaller  projects (between 1 and 5 MWp) in topographically challenging areas.  With its numerous characteristics and particularly high safety  regulations, experience is the key to achieving sustained business  success in such a complex market.

Local projects with international expertise

IBC SOLAR’s regional subsidiary is currently working on two PV  projects; since the beginning of June 2016, a 0.5 MWp has been under construction in the Gifu prefecture. The system is located on a small  terraced and, in relation to its design, demanding area. Thanks to smooth cooperation with local partners, the construction is projected to finish in July 2016. Within the same timeframe, the company will also be  implementing another project in Fuchumachi (Toyama prefecture) with 1.6  MWp, after the project was able to be secured exclusively by IBC SOLAR.  “The location is topographically very demanding: on the one hand, we  have to take into account that heavy snowfall is a very real  possibility, but on the other, the soil at this location is very loose,  which in itself has special requirements in regards to the structural   engineering. Here, we will benefit from IBC SOLAR’s extensive  experience of the global implementation of large-scale projects”,  explains Bultmann.

As one of the oldest and most experienced PV suppliers globally, IBC  SOLAR is able to bring valuable experience to the Japanese PV market.  Extensive knowledge in the planning and installation of large-scale  projects, as well as the firm’s solid economic structure, provides IBC  SOLAR’s clients with smooth financing in cooperation with local  financial institutes. Thanks to an extended quality assurance and  control during the whole value chain, IBC SOLAR is able to secure the  maximum efficiency of a PV system, and is able to offer clients and  investors long-term planning security for their investments, as well as a secured cash flow.