#solar energy #Japan #Ibaraki #Joyful Honda #Ai-Grid

Joyful Honda Collaborates with Ai-Grid for Solar Power Rollout

In an exciting development for environmental sustainability, Joyful Honda, a leading Japanese home improvement retailer, has officially announced its collaboration with Ai-Grid Solutions to implement solar power generation and battery storage systems in 11 of its stores. The initiative marks a significant step in Joyful Honda's ongoing efforts to promote Green Transformation (GX) strategies and aims for completion by June 2025.

With this partnership, Joyful Honda anticipates generating approximately 10 million kWh of renewable energy. This amount is expected to fulfill around 25% of the electricity needs of the stores equipped with solar panels. Furthermore, the implementation of these systems is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 3,800 tons annually, contributing to the fight against climate change.

Commitment to Sustainable Store Development

In line with its sustainability policies, Joyful Honda is committed to building a circular economy and addressing climate change proactively. The company's targets include a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 compared to 2013 levels, with a roadmap to reach 51% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Encouragingly, the company has exceeded its initial 2025 goals by reaching a 46.7% reduction ahead of schedule. Going forward, Joyful Honda is determined to create environmentally-friendly stores optimized for sustainability.

Since 2022, Joyful Honda has been collaborating with Ai-Grid to implement solar power systems, using a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model focused on installing rooftop solar solutions. By June 2025, the company plans to complete installations across the targeted 11 stores, ensuring they can fully utilize renewable energy generated during the day.

Among these installations, 10 stores will also feature battery storage systems. These batteries will store electricity generated during peak sunlight and release it during times of high demand, including evenings and nighttime. In emergencies, such as extended outages, the battery systems will allow access to energy for nearby residents, thereby extending support to local communities.

In addition to using stored solar energy, Joyful Honda will also utilize green energy certificates from Ai-Grid to offset any energy consumed during hours without solar generation. This integrated approach further enhances Joyful Honda's supply of renewable energy, contributing to a successful GX initiative.

Store Network Overview and Impact

The rollout encompasses stores located in several municipalities, namely:

• - Arakawaoki Store (Ibaraki, Tsuchiura)
• - Koga Store (Ibaraki, Koga)
• - Satte Store (Saitama, Satte)
• - Ichihara Store (Chiba, Ichihara)
• - Kimitsu Store (Chiba, Kimitsu)
• - Chiba Store (Chiba, Chiba City)
• - Tomisato Store (Chiba, Tomisato, Solar installation only)
• - Newport Hitachinaka Store (Ibaraki, Hitachinaka)
• - Nitta Store (Gunma, Ota)
• - Mizuho Store (Tokyo, Nishitama)
• - Joyhon Park Yoshioka (Gunma, Kitagunma)

The total anticipated capacity of generated power is around 9,359kW, supplemented by a total battery capacity of 4,358kWh, culminating in the significant CO2 reduction of approximately 3,800 tons.

Future Directions

Joyful Honda remains committed to the vision of a decarbonized society through the creation of integrated renewable energy solutions alongside Ai-Grid. The company's mission extends beyond enhancing its operations; it aims to foster a richer community while addressing urgent environmental issues.

By aligning their efforts with governance focused on the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Joyful Honda is set to unveil more robust strategies in climate change governance, risk management, and sustainability metrics.

Conclusion

This partnership between Joyful Honda and Ai-Grid not only underscores their commitment to sustainability but also illustrates the practicality of incorporating renewable energy into retail operations. As they prepare for the full-scale operation of solar systems by mid-2025, both companies simultaneously pave the way toward a greener future and promote responsible energy consumption in retail environments.