Clenergy's Collaborative Effort with Idemitsu Kosan Wins the Prestigious Good Design Award 2023 in Japan

Oct 23, 2023

Clenergy, a leading renewable energy solutions provider, is thrilled to announce that its collaborative effort with Idemitsu Kosan, the next-generation agricultural solar power generation system featuring ezTracker D2P, has been honoured with the esteemed Good Design Award 2023 in Japan. This prestigious award recognises Clenergy's commitment to pioneering sustainable and cutting-edge solutions in the renewable energy sector.

The Good Design Award is a prestigious honour celebrating exceptional product design and innovation. With a legacy dating back over six decades, this program was established in 1957 by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, now known as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Originally known as the 'Good Design Selection System,' it is more widely recognised as the G Mark System, leaving an enduring mark on the design industry. The innovative system marks a pioneering advancement in the realm of smart agriculture, breaking away from conventional solar solutions. Developed through a collaborative effort led by Idemitsu Kosan, the project seamlessly integrates Trina solar panels, Omron inverters, and Clenergy's PVezRack solar tracking system, ezTracker D2P. Designed to optimise agricultural land use and balance power generation with agricultural activities, the system has garnered the attention of the Good Design Award committee for its ingenious approach. Unlike conventional agricultural solar power generation systems that prioritise power generation, the innovative system prioritises crop growth during the respective growth periods of the crops. It dynamically adjusts the solar panel angles to ensure optimal sunlight for crops during growth periods while maximising power generation during idle periods. g design

This innovative approach not only enhances crop yields and quality but also addresses key challenges faced by agricultural workers, such as workload issues and income instability. The horizontal mode serves as an effective heatstroke prevention measure during the summer, providing stable supplementary income during the dormant period through electricity generation. "We are immensely proud of this recognition by the prestigious Good Design Award committee," said Kuninori Ihara, General Manager of Clenergy Japan. "The innovative system represents our commitment to sustainable innovation, and this award validates the impact our collaborative effort with Idemitsu Kosan is making in the realm of smart agriculture and renewable energy." As Japan continues to witness a surge in large-scale solar installations, concerns regarding environmental impacts and limited suitable installation sites have become increasingly evident. In order to fulfil the increasing need for renewable energy, the nation must install an additional 50 GW of capacity, equivalent to an area spanning 100,000 hectares. The innovative system, featuring ezTracker D2P, presents a practical solution, utilising a mere 2% of Japan's agricultural land, estimated at approximately 4.5 million hectares. By effectively balancing solar power generation and agriculture, this system is a crucial step towards achieving Japan's renewable energy goals. The collaboration between Clenergy and Idemitsu Kosan has demonstrated a visionary approach to smart agriculture, ensuring the sustainable coexistence of solar power generation and agricultural activities. Clenergy continues to lead the way in innovation, driving us towards a brighter and more sustainable future. The ezTracker D2P is a horizontal single-axis tracker that offers exceptional stability thanks to its innovative slewing drive design and self-calibrating system. When compared to a fixed-tilt system, the EzTracker D-series has the potential to boost power generation by up to 20%. Furthermore, when paired with bifacial mono double glass modules, it can enhance power generation by an impressive 25% to 30%. System Details: The pioneering design and versatile operational modes of the system have set new standards in the solar industry: Growth Mode: This mode ensures crops receive the right amount of sunlight by adjusting the panel angles to track the sun's movement. Horizontal Mode: It enables the operation of agricultural machinery, provides shade for agricultural workers during the summer, and shields against frost in the winter. Strong Wind Evacuation Mode: When strong winds are detected, the panels automatically reposition themselves to a safer angle to prevent potential damage. Generation Mode: During the dormant period, the panels are oriented directly towards the sun to maximise electricity production, ensuring a consistent energy supply. g design

Key Design Features:

Breaking away from the conventional approach of directing panels toward the sun, this system optimises sunlight for crop growth during the growing season.
The 'Horizontal Mode' provides worker comfort during extreme weather conditions while preventing frost damage in winter.
The use of double-sided solar panels makes efficient use of reflected light from the ground and crops, ensuring consistent electricity generation even during crop growth periods.

Producer: Noriyuki Sato, Deputy General Manager, Regional Revitalisation Business Division, Idemitsu Kosan Director: Shogo Tanbo, Manager, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Regional Revitalisation Business Division, Idemitsu Kosan Designer: Hiromune Nomura, Regional Revitalisation Business Division, Idemitsu Kosan Kuninori Ihara, General Manager, Clenergy Japan Installation Location: Kakudo, Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture Commencement Date: 01-04-2023 Links: Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. https://www.idemitsu.com/en/index.html Good Design Award (Japan) https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/16354?companies=eba9d114-6af0-4084-a811-088bdf7faef0&years=2023

About Clenergy

Established in Melbourne, Australia, and extending our presence with offices and factories across China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Germany, Clenergy stands as an enabler for the public sector, enterprises, and governments in pursuit of sustainability and carbon neutrality solutions. Our commitment is grounded in a vision of a future powered by sustainable, clean energy. We persistently reinvent our approach, leveraging innovative technology and service, as we strive towards realising this mission.