Japanese group SMFL Mirai Partners has tasked H.E Energy with the development and construction of one hundred low-voltage solar power plants totalling approximately 10MWDC on the island of Hokkaido. The works are expected to be completed by June 2026, according to a statement released on October 8 by parent company Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing.
The plants will be integrated into a portfolio held by a special purpose entity controlled by SMFL Mirai Partners, a subsidiary focused on real estate and energy. Once operational, the units will be operated under corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). This will represent the company’s first solar assets in the Hokkaido Transmission System Operator (TSO) area.
Deployment of a distributed model
H.E Energy, formerly Hiro Energy, is a Sapporo-based company engaged in the development, engineering, construction and maintenance of renewable energy projects. Founded in June 2015, it mainly focuses on solar projects in the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions. In December 2024, the company announced a similar agreement to develop fifty solar facilities for ENEOS Renewable Energy in the Tohoku area.
The low-voltage configuration allows for more flexible deployment, particularly in rural areas where land constraints and grid connection timelines remain barriers for large-scale installations. This type of development reflects the shift in the Japanese solar market towards distributed portfolios that can be quickly deployed with minimal land impact.
Growing renewable energy portfolio
SMFL Mirai Partners holds a renewable energy portfolio of approximately 1.7GW, primarily composed of solar assets, along with wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal infrastructure. The company recently completed several solar projects in partnership with MIRAIT One (70MW) and Sun Village (11.8MW), and acquired a stake in the 40MWAC/50.4MWDC Matsushima Donguri Solar Power Plant operated by JDC.
The company is also developing multiple grid-scale storage projects, reinforcing its position in the Japanese energy value chain. The partnership with H.E Energy is part of a series of collaborations between developers and institutional investors seeking to structure solar portfolios that align with grid and land constraints.
