Study Tour on "Reusable Solar Power" for Trainees from 6 Latin American Countries! Visiting the Urban Power Plant "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant" that Reutilizes Used Solar Panels, Drawing International Attention

UPDATER Inc. (Location: Setagaya Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Eiji Oishi), operator of the 100% renewable energy retail electricity service "Minna Denryoku," will host 10 trainees from government agencies, public institutions, and universities from 6 Latin American countries at our "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant" (Setagaya Ward, Tokyo) on July 13 (Mon) as part of the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Project-Based Training "Promotion of High-Efficiency Energy Use and Energy Saving (A)."

The background for selecting "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant" as a site for this study tour lies in the challenges faced by renewable energy in various Latin American countries. Hydropower, which has been the mainstream, is susceptible to climate change impacts such as droughts, and while diversification towards solar and wind power is progressing, the disposal and reuse of used solar panels are emerging as future challenges. In this context, "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant," an urban, locally-sourced, locally-consumed model power plant that reuses used solar panels and utilizes a former school site as its power generation base, has been chosen as a study destination for trainees to reference in their own national policies as an advanced example of resource circulation and regional utilization in renewable energy introduction.

On the day, Yasuhiro Uemura, General Manager of the Minna Power Business Department, Climate Tech Business Division at UPDATER, will guide the tour of the "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant," which was completed last September. Following the site visit, a lecture will be held in a dialogue format covering the current status and outlook of the solar power generation business in Japan, and preparations and opportunities related to the era of mass disposal of solar panels.

We would be grateful if you would consider covering this event.

Those wishing to cover the event are kindly requested to complete the necessary information on the attached document or the media application form and submit it by 5:00 PM on July 10, 2026.

<Key Points for Coverage>

● A culturally diverse study tour with 7 trainees from government and public institutions in 6 Latin American countries (Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Paraguay) gathered in one place. You can cover the front-line initiatives in Japan and observe how the stakeholders facing energy challenges in their respective countries perceive them. In addition to the strong news value of social issues x international cooperation, you can report from a real-world site where diverse perspectives intersect.

● The uniqueness of renewable energy in "reutilizing used solar panels." You can cover a unique initiative that generates power by reusing solar panels, which are becoming a disposal issue not only in Japan but also in Latin America.

● Learning about the future of renewable energy in a "former school classroom." After touring the rooftop power plant, a lecture and Q&A session will be held in a former junior high school classroom where the original blackboards and desks remain. This is a symbolic scene that is visually appealing for photos and videos, embodying the spirit of reuse in repurposing used items, with the venue itself reflecting this philosophy.

Background of the Study Tour

Energy Transition in Latin America and "The Next Challenge"

Renewable energy in Latin American countries has grown primarily through hydropower, leveraging abundant river resources such as the Amazon and Paraná rivers. In fact, in multiple countries including Brazil, Paraguay, and Ecuador, hydropower accounts for over half of their power generation mix, and they are known as one of the world's leading "advanced renewable energy regions" (Note 1).

However, in recent years, severe droughts and extreme weather events have occurred frequently, and energy supply dependent on hydropower faces climate change risks. From September to October 2024, a historic drought with the lowest water levels on record was observed in the Amazon River basin, significantly reducing hydropower generation in a wide area including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela (Note 2). In response to this situation, diversification towards solar and wind power is rapidly progressing as a national strategy (Note 3).

The Emerging Issue of "Used Solar Panels"

The rapid proliferation of solar power generation creates a common challenge: "how to dispose of used panels." In Japan, the arrival of an era of mass disposal in the late 2030s has already been pointed out (Note 4), and similar issues are predicted to emerge in Latin American countries within the next 10 to 20 years. The establishment of reuse and recycling mechanisms at an early stage is a crucial theme that will determine the sustainability of renewable energy diffusion.

A Rare "Reusable Solar x Urban" Model in Japan

Against this backdrop of challenges, "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant," operated by UPDATER, was selected as a study destination for the JICA Project-Based Training. This power plant reuses used solar panels and utilizes a former school site as its power generation base, making it an urban, locally-sourced, locally-consumed model power plant. Its combination of three elements – "reusable solar x former school utilization x urban" – is a rare case even within Japan.

The concept of re-evaluating solar panels, previously considered "waste," as "resources" and combining them with regional assets like former school buildings to create urban power sources is attracting attention from trainees from various countries as an advanced example of resource circulation and regional utilization in renewable energy introduction, which they can reference for their own national policies.

Note 1: IEA (International Energy Agency) Climate Impacts on Latin American Hydropower | https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-impacts-on-latin-american-hydropower/introduction Note 2: NASA Earth Observatory | Intense, Widespread Drought Grips South America | https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153447/intense-widespread-drought-grips-south-america Note 3: IEA (International Energy Agency) | Latin America Energy Outlook 2023 | https://www.iea.org/reports/latin-america-energy-outlook-2023/executive-summary Note 4: Ministry of the Environment | Current Status and Issues Regarding Disposal and Recycling of Renewable Energy Generation Equipment | https://www.env.go.jp/council/content/03recycle03/000183808.pdf Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / NEDO | Regarding Disposal and Recycling of Solar Power Generation Equipment | https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/energy_environment/disposal_recycle/pdf/001_02_00.pdf

Overview of the "Reusable Solar Power" Study Tour

Seven trainees from government and public institutions in 6 Latin American countries will visit the "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant," which reuses used solar panels, to experience the forefront of renewable energy in Japan. Afterward, they will move to a former junior high school classroom, where the original blackboards and desks remain, for a lecture and Q&A session with the power plant's staff. The trainees from the 6 Latin American countries will share their respective countries' energy situations and engage in frank discussions about the philosophy of reuse – repurposing used items – and the role of renewable energy in regions and society.

Event Name: Study Tour on "Reusable Solar Power" for Trainees from 6 Latin American Countries Date and Time: July 13, 2026 (Mon) 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Reception starts at 1:30 PM) Location: Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant (Rooftop Pool Site, HOME/WORK VILLAGE, 2-4-5 Ikegami, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo) [Access] Train: 10-minute walk from Ikejiri-Ohashi Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line / 16-minute walk from Sangen-jaya Station Bus: 4-minute walk from the "Mishuku" bus stop *If arriving by car, please use nearby coin parking. Reception Location: Main Entrance (in front of the Information / Coffee Stand "Totsutotsuto")

<Participants (Planned)> Total 10 people - Trainees: 7 people (6 Latin American countries: Ecuador 2, Guatemala, Panama, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Paraguay 1 each) - JICA Training Supervisor & Interpreter: 1 person - ECCJ International Human Resources Development Center Staff: 2 people

<Content (Planned)> - Site Tour / Lecture (Yasuhiro Uemura, General Manager, Minna Power Business Department, Climate Tech Business Division, UPDATER Inc.) - Individual Interviews (Trainees from government/public institutions/universities*, JICA staff, UPDATER's Uemura) *Interviews with trainees are subject to their consent and will be conducted within a scope that does not interfere with training operations.

<Day's Schedule> - Language: Japanese (with consecutive interpretation into Spanish) - Lecture Materials: Spanish (projected on screen) - Interpretation Format: Consecutive interpretation between Japanese and Spanish by JICA Training Supervisor

<Heatstroke Prevention Measures> Summer 2026 is predicted to have extreme heat, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) pointing to the possibility of the strongest "Super El Niño" in the past decade. For this study tour, which includes an outdoor power plant visit, all participants, including trainees and media representatives, will wear "hamon band N," a wearable device that estimates changes in core body temperature. We are providing an environment where you can cover the event with peace of mind, allowing you to experience firsthand this device that detects abnormalities before subjective symptoms appear and allows supervisors to grasp changes in physical condition in real-time.

Speaker Profile

Yasuhiro Uemura, General Manager, Minna Power Business Department, Climate Tech Business Division, UPDATER Inc. Upon graduating from university, he worked in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for developing countries. After working overseas in Sri Lanka, he transitioned to the renewable energy industry, believing that energy must be green to improve and resolve global environmental issues. After approximately 10 years engaged in the construction, maintenance, and operation (O&M) of solar power plants in Japan, he joined UPDATER in October 2023, attracted by "electricity with a human face." Currently, he is the leader of "Symbiotic Renewable Energy Project 10."

Contact Information for this Matter

UPDATER Inc. Strategic Public Relations Team: Hemmi / Toyoshima

TEL: 03-6805-2228 (Reception Hours: Weekdays 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM)

E-mail: pr@minden.co.jp