Canadian Solar announced that it has begun the commercial operation of three solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Japan, totaling approximately 6.2MW. The 6.2MW portfolio of projects include the 1.7MW Minamishimabara Plant - West in Minamishimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture, the 2.2MW Minamishimabara Power Plant – East, and the 2.3MW Ashikita Solar Power Plant in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

"The completion and commercial operation of the additional three solar projects, totaling 6.2MW, brings our total megawatts of projects in operation in Japan to approximately 21MW," commented Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc., "We remain on track to execute on our plan to deliver more clean solar energy to the Japanese market."

The 2.3MW Ashikita Solar Power Plant, powered by 9,030 Canadian Solar CS6P-260P modules, achieved commercial operation on December 11, 2015. The electricity generated from this plant, approximately 2,858MWh annually, will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20 year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥40.00 ($0.34) per kWh.

The 2.2MW Minamishimabara Power Plant – East, powered by 8,602 Canadian Solar CS6P-260P modules, achieved commercial operation on December 25, 2015. The electricity generated from the plant, approximately 2,750MWh annually, will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20 year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥40.00 yen ($0.34) per kWh.

And finally the 1.7MW Minamishimabara Plant – West, powered by 6,509 Canadian Solar CS6P-260P modules, achieved commercial operation on January 29, 2016. This plant is expected to generate approximately 2,073MWh of clean, solar electricity annually to be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20 year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥40.00 yen ($0.34) per kWh.