Shizen Energy Inc.

Tokyu Land Corporation and Shizen Energy Inc. are pleased to announce the establishment of a new joint venture company, ReENE Shizen Farm LLC, for the collaborative development and promotion of agrivoltaic power generation projects. As the first undertaking of this new company, a power supply agreement (currently under application for farmland conversion permission) has been signed. This agreement is based on joint research conducted by Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and Hokkaido Shizen Energy Inc., and involves installing a vertical solar power plant with a rated output of 708.48 kW on the university campus to supply electricity to the university.

Background and Significance of the New Company
In light of the multifaceted challenges facing Japan’s agriculture and energy sectors, the new company has been established with the aim of providing integrated solutions to these issues. While Japan’s agricultural land area is said to exceed 4 million hectares, the agriculture and livestock industries nationwide are facing challenges such as a shortage of successors and a lack of manpower, compounded by the rising prices of fertilizers and fuel due to recent international instability. This economic pressure is contributing to a declining trend in agricultural land area.

As the nation strives towards achieving carbon neutrality, the importance of onsite Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for the direct utilization of renewable energy sources—without reliance on conventional grid systems—has become increasingly prominent. Particularly in Japan, where land suitable for renewable energy generation is limited, the implementation of agrivoltaics (solar power generation compatible with agricultural activities) is gaining significant attention. This innovative approach aims to sustainably maintain agricultural production while simultaneously generating renewable energy.

However, significant challenges remain in the expansion of agrivoltaics, particularly concerning the establishment of a business model that ensures sustainable agricultural and power generation operations, alongside maintaining long-term stable profitability. Furthermore, there is a need for thorough investigation into the impact of changing sunlight conditions on crop yield and quality. Addressing these issues is critical to the successful deployment and scaling of agrivoltaic initiatives.

In this new partnership, the companies aim to expand agrivoltaic solar power projects with a focus on local communities and agricultural production. This will be achieved by leveraging the strengths of both Tokyu Land Corporation’s renewable energy development capabilities, including agrivoltaics, and Shizen Energy’s strong regional business promotion capabilities. The newly established company has set a target of developing a total of 10 MW over the next two years. It seeks to establish a local production for local consumption model by supplying electricity generated from renewable energy in agricultural areas to local consumers.

Key Features of this Project
This project is part of an agrivoltaics Proof of Concept (PoC) study conducted by Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, employing vertical solar power generation which minimizes the land area occupied by equipment. Furthermore, by adjusting the installation orientation, it is possible to shift the peak power generation to the morning or evening, and an increase in power generation is expected due to ground reflection, especially during snowfall. This approach is anticipated to provide a more stable revenue and yield compared to conventional agrivoltaic systems.

The project was realized due to the favorable environment for sustainable agriculture and livestock industry combined with Green Transformation (GX) within the farm operations of Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, in collaboration with the Obihiro City Kawanishi Agricultural Cooperative (JA Obihiro Kawanishi). Notably, the rated output of 708.48 kW marks one of the largest for vertical solar power generation in Japan, serving as a model case for the new company’s development goals.

Tokyu Land Corporation and Shizen Energy will leverage their respective group strengths and collaborative framework through the new company to promote locally produced and consumed renewable energy development projects, contributing to decarbonization support rooted in the local community.

Comments from Stakeholders
Dr. Hideyuki Nagasawa, President of Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine:
“Our university aims to explore the potential for the widespread adoption of agrivoltaic power generation through PoC research and to return the obtained results to the community. We hope that this project will contribute to the coexistence of local agriculture and renewable energy.”

Mr. Hiroiku Asuke, Chairman of JA Obihiro Kawanishi:
“This project has been designed after careful consultation to ensure no impact on farming operations. We believe it is a wonderful initiative that creates renewable energy while maintaining Obihiro’s rich agriculture. With rising fuel costs, we expect that increasing such local energy sources will support the local agriculture and livestock industry.”

(Reference 1) Characteristics of Obihiro City (Tokachi Region)
The Tokachi region is Japan’s largest field crop and dairy farming area in Japan, with fertile and vast farmland. Field cultivation has become increasingly large-scale with the use of large machinery, and Hokkaido has the largest number of cattle (dairy and beef) in Japan, playing an important role as a food base for the country. While it has the highest amount of sunlight in Hokkaido, the region tends to have low annual rainfall and less snowfall, making it suitable for solar power generation. Furthermore, with approximately 9,500 hectares of farmland available for conversion, the region has a very high potential for the introduction of renewable energy, particularly agrivoltaic power generation.

(Reference 2) Background of Collaboration with Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and Hokkaido Shizen Energy concluded a collaboration agreement in August 2024 to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality and sustainable development in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido*2. As part of the joint research conducted under this agreement, 5 kW (3 arrays) vertical solar panels were installed in the university’s training field in February 2025 as a pilot experiment (theme: comparative verification of power generation between vertical and inclined solar panels). This served as the PoC preceding the full-scale expansion for this project.

Photo upper: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine’s pilot equipment (completed in February 2025)
Photo lower: vertical solar power equipment (installed by Shizen Energy on the premises of Rakuno Gakuen University in December 2023)

*1 Based on research by Tokyu Land Corporation and Shizen Energy
*2 “Hokkaido Shizen Energy and Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine collaborate on carbon neutrality and sustainable development in Tokachi” (Press release Aug. 20, 2024)
https://www.shizenenergy.net/en/2024/08/20/hse_obihirouniv_agreement/

About Tokyu Land Corporation https://www.tokyu-land.co.jp/
Tokyu Land Corporation, a core company of the Tokyu Land Holdings Group, is developing renewable energy power generation projects, primarily focusing on solar and wind power, with 145 projects and a rated capacity exceeding 1,956 MW nationwide (as of the end of March 2025, including projects under development). Among these, agrivoltaic power generation projects are being developed in 10 locations nationwide, with a rated capacity exceeding 11 MW (as of the end of March 2025, including projects under development). Additionally, Tokyu Land Corporation is working with multiple municipalities on initiatives to address both agricultural and energy issues. Furthermore, together with ReENE Shizen Farm, a registered retail electricity provider under the Electricity Business Act, the company has established an integrated system to deliver self-generated renewable energy directly to consumers.

About Shizen Energy Inc.  http://www.shizenenergy.net
Shizen Energy offers comprehensive renewable energy services encompassing development, EPC, O&M, and asset management of renewable energy power plants, with a cumulative development record exceeding 1GW. The company specializes in supplying renewable energy through corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to large-scale consumers, including global tech companies. Furthermore, Shizen Energy excels in building networks with local governments, the agriculture and livestock industry, academia, and various other industries, particularly through its regional companies in Kyushu and Hokkaido. The company also has a strong standing in decarbonization solutions. In March 2024, aiming to advance Green Transformation (GX) in Hokkaido and co-create the region’s future, Shizen Energy established Hokkaido Shizen Energy Inc. (HSE). With the goal to support Hokkaido and take on new challenges in the region, HSE is actively promoting initiatives for social implementation, including conducting PoC experiments on the fields of Rakuno Gakuen University (Ebetsu City, Hokkaido) to explore the potential for synergy between vertical solar power generation and agriculture.