Kyoto-based Kyocera supplied 290,000 modules for the  ¥27bn ($274.7m) project.

The plant started operations during the last few days via a special-purpose company (SPC) established by Kyocera and six partners, in what it is hailing as a “new business model for utility-scale solar power generation”.

The project company also includes telecoms group KDDI, Kagoshima Bank, Bank of Kyoto, Takenaka, and IHI, which owns the land.

The