UPDATER Opens Electricity Contracts Supporting the Shuzo Nishioka Power Plant, Donating Support Funds to Grameen Japan

UPDATER Inc. (Head office: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Eiji Oishi), which aims to update society through lifestyle choices, announced that it will begin accepting electricity contracts from May 12, 2026, for customers who wish to support the “Shuzo Nishioka Power Plant,” a solar power plant installed by environmental scholar Shuzo Nishioka at his home in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. The power plant was established by Nishioka himself as a “practitioner,” after many years of work in climate change research. All support funds generated through the plant will be donated to Grameen Japan, a general incorporated association that supports the economic independence of women in Japan, particularly single mothers. While renewable energy has become more widespread in recent years, there has not been sufficient discussion about how its social value should be returned to society. This initiative is positioned as a new model that connects electricity directly to solutions for social issues. As background, renewable energy adoption is advancing as a climate change measure, yet electricity remains largely invisible: it is still difficult to see who generates it, where it is generated, and what value it creates. At the same time, social issues such as relative poverty are becoming more serious in Japan, and there are people who are willing to work but remain outside the existing financial system. Against this backdrop, Nishioka, who has long engaged in science-based research and policy proposals on climate change measures, strongly recognized the need to participate in the realization of a low-carbon society as a practitioner himself. He therefore installed a solar power plant on the roof of his home. Starting from the act of power generation, this initiative connects electricity users’ choices to the resolution of social issues. This project supplies electricity generated by solar power and also links power generation to social issue resolution. When users of Minna Denryoku support this power plant, 100 yen per month per electricity contract is allocated to poverty support. For example, use by 1,000 households would lead to approximately 1.2 million yen in annual support. Users do not bear any additional cost under this initiative; all support funds are covered by Minna Denryoku. The model allows customers to use renewable energy while also contributing to the self-reliance of people facing financial hardship. Choosing electricity becomes climate action. Users can select and support renewable energy generated by a researcher himself in a visible, traceable way, turning everyday electricity choices into direct environmental action. Choosing electricity can also support someone’s independence. All support funds sent to this power plant will be donated to Grameen Japan and used for microfinance for people with limited access to financial services. The act of choosing electricity becomes a force that expands someone’s life choices. Through electricity, the project also seeks to bring closer to reality the “three zeros” advocated by Dr. Muhammad Yunus: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero CO2 emissions. Shuzo Nishioka is an environmental scholar and a leading figure in Japan’s environmental policy field, having long worked on research and proposals related to climate change measures and the realization of a low-carbon society. He has been involved in domestic and international discussions on climate policy and energy, and has promoted initiatives toward a sustainable society in collaboration with governments, municipalities, companies, and other stakeholders. In recent years, beyond research and advocacy such as the “Now is the time to create a proper Japanese climate policy” campaign, he has also focused on activities as a practitioner, including implementing renewable energy in his own life. Nishioka commented: “This power plant is a solar power plant installed on the roof of my own home. For many years, I have worked as an environmental scholar to realize a low-carbon society, but I wanted to contribute to society as a practitioner myself. I also sympathize with Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s concept of the ‘three zeros,’ and all support funds from this power plant will be handed over to Grameen Japan. I hope that the electricity generated from my roof will become a force that supports someone’s new first step.” All support funds received by this power plant will be donated to Grameen Japan. Grameen Japan is a microfinance institution that provides funds needed to prepare for entrepreneurship or employment to people who have been difficult to reach through conventional finance. The everyday act of choosing electricity can become a force that supports such challenges. Grameen Bank is a microfinance institution founded in Bangladesh in 1983 by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. It provides low-interest, unsecured small loans to people living in poverty or financial hardship, supporting poverty reduction and self-reliance. Since its founding, it has provided loans to more than 9 million people and has achieved an exceptional repayment rate of 99%. In recognition of its contributions to poverty alleviation, Grameen Bank and Dr. Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. Grameen Japan is a microfinance institution founded in Japan in 2018, based on Grameen Bank’s business model. It aims to create “a sustainable society where everyone can thrive and play an active role.” It provides loans for entrepreneurship and employment preparation to people not covered by conventional finance, especially women such as single mothers who are willing to work but currently face financial hardship, supporting their economic independence through entrepreneurship or employment. Power plant overview: Name: Shuzo Nishioka Power Plant. Power producer: Shuzo Nishioka. Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. Generation type: solar power using a residential rooftop (non-FIT). Facility capacity: 7.1 kW AC. Service area: nationwide in Japan within Minna Denryoku’s supply area, excluding some regions. Support funds: Minna Denryoku contributes 100 yen per month per user contract and donates the full amount to Grameen Japan. Service start date: May 12, 2026. Power plant page: https://portal.minden.co.jp/powerplant-info/MP001457 Minna Denryoku is a service that provides 100% renewable electricity procured from renewable energy power plants across Japan as “visible electricity.” Individual household users can allocate part of their electricity charges, 100 yen, to support a power plant or project. This support cost is covered by Minna Denryoku at 100 yen per contract per month, without any additional burden on users. Minna Denryoku: https://minden.co.jp/personal/ UPDATER Inc. changed its name from Minna Denryoku Inc. on October 1, 2021. The company provides services for businesses and individuals centered on traceability and transparency, working to solve social issues. Its businesses include Minna Denryoku, a decarbonization business that commercialized electricity traceability for the first time in the world; Minna Works, which seeks to transform the labor market through well-being; Shift C, which evaluates and discloses the ethical level of brands; TADORi, an e-commerce service that enables purchases based on product backgrounds and stories; Minna Shoten, which handles products considerate of people, society, and the environment; and Minna Daichi, which encourages society-wide behavior change toward soil regeneration. The company has received numerous awards and certifications, including the Prime Minister’s Award at the 4th Japan SDGs Awards, recognition as one of only three CDP-accredited renewable energy providers in Japan, and B Corp certification as an energy provider. UPDATER company overview: Address: Santa Towers Center Building 8F, 2-11-22 Sangenjaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. Representative Director: Eiji Oishi. Established: May 25, 2011. Capital: 153,825,500 yen, with capital reserve of 197,739,500 yen, as of December 19, 2025. Business: decarbonization business Minna Denryoku and SX services related to well-being, biodiversity, and related fields. Corporate website: https://www.updater.co.jp/ Media inquiries: UPDATER Inc., Strategic Public Relations Department, Ueda and Toyoshima. TEL: 03-6805-2228, weekdays 11:00–15:00. E-mail: pr@minden.co.jp