Press Coverage Invitation: Agricultural Perovskite Solar Power Generation Demonstration Field Commences - Rice Planting Ceremony to be Held

National University Corporation Chiba University, with planning and coordination handled by Chiba University Connect Co., Ltd., and in collaboration with TERRA Co., Ltd., Sekisui Solar Film Co., Ltd., Chiba Bank, Ltd., and Himawari Green Energy Co., Ltd., is advancing a demonstration experiment on agricultural solar power generation utilizing film-type perovskite solar cells, leveraging the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' Green Food System Strategy Promotion Grant. To mark the full-scale commencement of this demonstration experiment, an opening ceremony and a rice planting ceremony under the solar power generation equipment will be held at the paddy field (rice field) of Chiba University Kashiwanoha Campus. On the day, you will be able to cover agricultural activities in a paddy field where both existing silicon-based solar panels and film-type perovskite solar cells are installed. We kindly invite you to cover this event, despite your busy schedule. Perovskite solar cells installed at the main gate of Chiba University Kashiwanoha Campus 1. Date and Time: Monday, May 11, 2026, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM [Reception starts 10:30 AM] 2. Location: Paddy field at Chiba University Kashiwanoha Campus (In case of rain, Lecture Room 1F, Administration Building) 3. Overview: 11:00 AM Opening Ceremony (Tape cutting, rice planting ceremony by staff) Attendees: Hajime Fukushima, Councilor, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Kenji Goto, Director-General, Kanto Local Finance Bureau, Ministry of Finance; Eriko Tanabe, Head of Regional Decarbonization Creation Office, Kanto Regional Environment Office, Ministry of the Environment; Kazumi Ota, Mayor of Kashiwa City; Teruko Takahashi, Director, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department, Chiba Prefecture; Kotaro Yokote, President, Chiba University; Takeharu Morita, Director and Development Department Manager, Sekisui Solar Film; Mutsumi Awaji, Deputy President, Chiba Bank; Hiroaki Azuma, Representative Director, TERRA. 11:45 AM Press Briefing 12:25 PM Q&A and On-site Tour 1:00 PM Scheduled End 4. Outline of the Demonstration Experiment on Agricultural Solar Power Generation Utilizing These Solar Cells: • Evaluation of power generation performance of film-type perovskite solar cells installed above the paddy field. • Impact on the growth, yield, and quality of agricultural crops (rice). • Comparative verification with conventional silicon solar panels. • Establishment of a new social implementation model for agricultural solar power generation (solar sharing). 5. Key Points for Coverage: • A pioneering domestic example of utilizing film-type perovskite solar cells, attracting attention as a next-generation solar cell, in agricultural land. • Actual rice planting work by machinery performed "under" the solar power generation equipment. • The site of collaborative research through industry-academia-finance partnership involving universities, companies, and financial institutions. 6. Venue Access: ● 5 minutes walk from Kashiwanoha Campus Station on the Tsukuba Express. ● Approximately 20 minutes by bus from Kashiwa Station on the JR Joban Line/Tobu Urban Park Line (Take Tobu Bus East from bus stop No. 2 at Kashiwa Station West Exit, bound for "National Cancer Center" or "Kashiwanoha Campus Station West Exit," get off at "Kashiwanoha High School Mae" bus stop after about 20 minutes, then 8 minutes walk). ● If coming by car, please enter from the "North Gate" and use the parking lot below. 7. Participation Method: Pre-registration required. Please send an email to the inquiry address below with the subject line "Chiba University Rice Planting Ceremony" by noon on Friday, May 8, including the following information: ① Your company name ② Your name ③ Contact information (phone number, email address).