Solar Power Network Japan K.K. (SPN), a distributed power generation company based in Tokyo and headquartered in Canada, and Beisia Corporation (Beisia) has announced a partnership to develop a total of 29 MW of rooftop solar power atop 33 buildings owned by Beisia.

SPN will design, build and operate the facilities. The completed systems will be grid connected with contracts under Japan's Feed-In Tariff system and all the electricity they generate will be sold under this scheme.

The 29 MW of solar energy will be sufficient to power more than 9250 typical Japanese households and will prevent the release of more than 680,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

One of the features of this project is to supply emergency power in case of natural disaster. Beisia signed a disaster relief agreement with more than a dozen municipal governments following the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 when damage to some of their facilities temporarily halted operations. Beisia learned from experience that a solar emergency power source is crucial for a relief center.

"One of SPN's primary goals is to provide clean energy to local communities," said Mr. Peter Goodman, CEO and President of Solar Power Network.

"SPN is proud to support Beisia in its initiative to move forward with its disaster relief scheme using renewable power. It is a great honour and pleasure for SPN to be a part of such a visionary program that includes 33 solar power facilities."

The first facility will generate power by the end of 2014 while a further 17 facilities will be completed by summer 2015. The planned Isezaki Store in Gunnma prefecture, targeted to open spring 2015, will be the first brand new store built with a SPN solar system.