Among all renewable energy sources, Sojitz places special focus on solar power generation. The expansion of solar power generation is desirable from the perspective of reducing CO2 emissions. Moreover, its broad base of associated businesses and globally distributed technologies, logistics and markets make it a field in which a general trading company can put its strengths to use.

For solar power generation and related businesses, the Sojitz Group has created the value chain illustrated on the next page and is involved in numerous upstream to downstream projects in Japan and overseas.

In upstream business, Sojitz is focusing on handling high-purity silicon metal, the main raw material used in making solar batteries. Sojitz has concluded an agreement with the world’s largest silicon metal manufacturer, Globe Specialty Metals Inc. of the United States, to be its general distributor in Asia. As a result of this and other initiatives, Sojitz is the number-one importer of silicon metal into Japan.

Downstream, Sojitz operates a mega-solar IPP（independent power producer) business in Germany, the world’s largest power market. Following the start of the Betzweiler IPP business in 2010, the Mixdorf IPP business launched in 2011 with a total project cost of 5.7 million euros (\6.3 billion) and total generating capacity of 24 megawatts, making it one of Germany’s largest mega-solar power businesses.

The solar power generating facility in Mixdorf, Germany

Solar Power and Battery-Related Business Value Chain