The 230MW array, in Setouchi, Okayama Prefecture, is more than twice the size of any other publicly announced solar projects in Japan, a country whose topography and population density are often seen as an impediment to the development of mega-PV installations.

GE Energy Financial Services is contemplating sinking as much as ¥20bn ($194m) into the project, according to Japan’s Nikkei news service.

If