Lightsource bp, a subsidiary of bp, has made a strategic investment in growing its operations in the Asia-Pacific region by acquiring a 15MWp solar project in Hokkaido, Japan. This move marks Lightsource bp’s entry into Japan, aligning with its efforts to support the country’s energy transition.

The acquisition of the Hokkaido solar plant is a key milestone for Lightsource bp’s overall Asia-Pacific growth strategy. Lightsource bp already has operations in Australia, where it has developed a portfolio of large-scale solar assets. It is also expanding in South Korea, Taiwan, and New Zealand, showcasing its ability to grow and diversify renewable energy solutions.

Pioneering Japan’s Energy Transition

Japan aims to increase its solar capacity as part of its decarbonization and energy source diversification efforts. Lightsource bp will help Japan achieve its energy aspirations through its successful and proven renewable energy developments. The company also aims to build long-lasting relationships with local stakeholders to help the country transition into a low-carbon, sustainable future.

Also read: Lightsource bp Completes 187-Megawatt Peacock Solar Farm in Texas

Adam Pegg, Chief Operating Officer for APAC at Lightsource bp, “Our entry into Japan reflects our commitment to contributing to the region’s energy transition. By combining our international experience with local partnerships, we aim to support Japan’s renewable energy goals while building a strong and sustainable pipeline of renewable energy projects. This is just the beginning of our operations in Japan, and we’re excited to support the nation’s ambition for a low-carbon future.”

He added, “As a global organisation, our success depends on fostering collaboration and creating long-term value for the communities we work with. We’re committed to building partnerships in Japan that deliver shared benefits – for the economy, the environment, local communities, and our partners.”

A Strong Global Presence

Furthermore, Lightsource bp has expanded into 20 international markets with its entry into Japan. With about 8GW of projects centered on the expanding APAC area, the company’s solar development pipeline surpasses 58GW. Additionally, as a pioneer in massive solar projects, Lightsource bp concentrates on environmentally and economically beneficial sustainable energy solutions.

Bloom Energy, a leading developer of fuel cell electricity, has announced its partnership with Chart Industries, Inc., a global energy and industrial gas solutions company, to advance carbon capture technology. The collaboration aims to provide secure, near zero-carbon power for use in data centers and manufacturing with rapid deployment.

Enhancing Carbon Capture

Under this collaboration, Chart Industries will utilize its carbon capture expertise to treat the high-purity carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Bloom Energy’s fuel cells. The CO2 can be used in commercial applications or sequestered. Although infrastructure for carbon sequestration is still in development, CO2 utilization is an immediate and pragmatic solution.

Market estimates by Morgan Stanley suggest that more than 500 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of carbon sequestration capacity will be available in the next five years, reflecting the increasing contribution of sequestration to long-term decarbonization.

Also read: Bloom Energy Partners with FPM Development to Install 20 MW of Fuel Cells in Los Angeles

Fuel Cells: An Affordable Carbon Capture Solution

KR Sridhar, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Bloom Energy, said, “Our partnership with Chart aims to demonstrate that cost-effective, onsite baseload power from natural gas with carbon capture is feasible at scale.”

He added, “Bloom fuel cells generate electricity without combustion, producing a concentrated CO2 stream that lowers extraction costs, making carbon capture more affordable and efficient. For energy-intensive industries like data centers and large manufacturers, this will provide a path to reliable, scalable power while significantly reducing carbon emissions. I am excited about the opportunities this partnership can unlock and the positive impact for our planet .”

Jill Evanko, CEO of Chart Industries, emphasized the synergy between the companies, expressing excitement about bringing Chart’s expertise in carbon capture to Bloom’s platform. She noted that Bloom’s platform not only provides reliable power but also produces a concentrated CO₂ stream. She also highlighted the partnership’s potential in sequestration and utilization markets and mentioned that they already use captured CO2 in food and beverage projects.

Carbon capture efficiency depends on CO2 purity in exhaust emissions, which varies greatly across different power generation technologies and methods. Due to low concentration, traditional gas turbines and engines produce exhaust with just 5% CO2, making carbon capture complex, inefficient, and costly.

Contrary to this, Bloom Energy’s high-temperature fuel cells produce electricity without combustion, and hence a CO2-rich exhaust stream is produced. Bloom’s fuel cells enhance carbon capture by emitting CO2 with 10 times greater concentration and 15 times lower mass flow, thus decreasing costs.