Japan Data Center Update 41: Japan Advances Data Center Plans Backed by Grid Power, Nuclear Energy, and On-Site Generation

Hokkaido seeks data center developers for six sites with 990 MW of power capacity

The Hokkaido government has launched a public solicitation for developers to build data centers in Tomakomai and Ishikari, which have been selected as national “GX Strategic Zones.” The solicitation covers five sites in Ishikari and one in Tomakomai, with power receiving capacity totaling 590 MW and 400 MW, respectively. Hokkaido has already entered into agreements with Hokkaido Electric Power for power supply applications at all six sites and will transfer these agreements to the preferred bidders selected through the solicitation. Applications are due by December 4. An external committee will assess criteria including project feasibility and coexistence with local communities, with preferred bidders to be selected from January 2027 onward.

Fukui adds nuclear-powered data center initiative to regional development plan

Fukui Prefecture has added the development of an industrial cluster, hosting large-scale data centers to its “Reinan E Coast Plan,” which promotes industrial development and community building in the Reinan region supported by nuclear energy. The prefecture is exploring concrete plans for data centers using electricity from nuclear power plants in the prefecture and has launched a public solicitation for a feasibility study on data center siting. In Fukui Prefecture, Fukui City and Obama City in the Reinan region have been designated as GX Strategic Zones under the decarbonized power utilization type. An official of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) expressed its intention to support the initiative, stating, “Working-level coordination has already begun. We hope to make steady progress.” 

Tokyo Gas joins Hitachi partnership to develop green data centers with on-site generation

Tokyo Gas announced that it will collaborate with Hitachi and partners to develop green data centers with on-site power generation in Japan. By reducing reliance on grid power, they seek to broaden data center location options, shorten project development timelines, and enable flexible expansion. As their first projects, they will draw up data center development plans in the Kanto and Kyushu regions. Other partners include Japanese subsidiary of Canadian asset manager Brookfield, and Hartree Partners Singapore, which trades fuels and other commodities. The four companies plan to eventually package and sell data center buildings and power generation equipment, to shorten project development timelines and enable expansion in line with demand.
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