Japan’s UACJ combines recycled aluminium and solar power in 7.43 MW project
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Japanese aluminium manufacturer UACJ Co Ltd has signed a 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with Hokuriku Electric Power Biz Energy Solution Co Ltd to supply renewable electricity to its Fukui Works. The 7.43 MW solar project in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, is expected to deliver 8.5 GWh of electricity annually while reducing UACJ’s carbon dioxide emissions by 27,694 tonnes per year.
Private-line solar supply to begin in November
Under the agreement announced on October 26, 2026, Hokuriku Electric Power Biz Energy Solution will supply UACJ’s Fukui Works through a dedicated 4.2 km private power line. The offsite solar plant has a capacity of 5 MWAC/7.43 MWDC, with electricity deliveries scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026.
Built on a 75,197-square-metre site, equivalent to approximately 7.5 hectares, the facility comprises 11,520 solar panels, each rated at 645 W. Its annual generation is expected to reach around 8.5 GWh.
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Recycled aluminium adds a circularity angle
Beyond renewable electricity, the project incorporates UACJ’s recycled aluminium into the solar panel mounting structures. The company also plans to recycle the material again when the facility is decommissioned, extending its use beyond the manufacturing process.
The project therefore combines offsite solar generation with aluminium recycling, while supporting UACJ’s efforts to reduce emissions from its operations.
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Expanding Hokuriku’s solar PPA portfolio
As of June 2026, Hokuriku Electric Power Biz Energy Solution had 136 operational and under-construction solar PPA assets, with combined capacity of approximately 82 MWDC.
The UACJ agreement follows other corporate power deals, including a 5 MWDC contract with Toray using an onsite ground-mounted solar plant and a 2.6 MWDC offsite agreement with Aisin Keikinzoku.
A private power line allows developers to supply electricity from land outside a customer’s premises through an arrangement structurally similar to an onsite PPA. The aluminium recycling model enables UACJ with offsite solar generation to serve its Fukui facility under a long-term supply agreement.
Showcase your brand, aluminium recycling initiatives and sustainability vision in our upcoming magazine: Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium’s Commitment 2026.
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