Mitsui, Toshiba to construct massive 50-MW solar power facility in Japan

Ford's solar array at Michigan Assembly Plant

The Japanese duo of Mitsui Chemicals and Toshiba have crafted a plan to construct the island nation's most extensive solar power facility to date, according to the Nikkei business daily.

The project is in anticipation of the passage of a bill in Japan that will require utilities to purchase a percentage of electricity from renewable sources at fixed rates. It's anticipated the bill will become law by July of 2012.

The proposed 50,000-kW solar facility will be constructed on 800,000 square meters (198 acres) of land owned by Mitsui Chemicals. The cost of the project is estimated at 20 billion yen ($262.3 million U.S. at the current exchange rate) and is expected to be functional by the end of 2013. Mitsui Chemicals and Toshiba say they will sell electricity directly to Chubu Electric Power.