Solar independent power producer Etrion Corp. has begun commercial operations at the 13.2-MW Komatsu photovoltaic facility in Japan.

Hitachi High-Technologies Corp. completed the project ahead of schedule and on budget. The utility-scale solar project will sell its output to Hokuriku Electric Power Co. under a 20-year power purchase agreement, according to a May 17 news release.

The Komatsu project is expected to produce 14.2 GWh or solar power per year. Etrion said it will receive the equivalent of 30 U.S. cents per kWh generated by the project.