Chinan Town and Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd. have entered into an agreement to conduct a 2-year operational demonstration of flexible photovoltaic panels using functional film with moisture-barrier properties equivalent to glass, installed at the telework office of Chinan Town Hall. The 10 panels have a maximum output of 250 Wp, and the demonstration will verify the characteristics of their installation and operation.
On 16 October 2026, Chinan Town entered into an agreement with Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd. concerning an operational demonstration test of lightweight, flexible photovoltaic power-generation equipment. The demonstration began with the equipment installed at the town's telework office and will verify its power-generation performance and the characteristics of its installation and operation.
The equipment consists of 10 panels using functional film developed by the company. Each panel is 3 metres long, 0.7 metres wide, weighs 3.2 kilograms and has a nominal maximum output of 250 Wp. The demonstration period is 2 years, during which the equipment's operating performance under the climatic and environmental conditions of Okinoerabu Island will be assessed.
The demonstration will also examine the feasibility of installing the equipment at public facilities and other locations where conventional ground-mounted photovoltaic systems are difficult to install, with the aim of exploring the feasibility of introducing renewable energy locally.
Chinan Town Mayor Imai Rikio (今井力夫) and Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd. Executive Officer Sato Kazuhiro (佐藤一弘) each expressed the expectation that verifying the potential for power generation outside the residential sector and the equipment's durability would lead to commercialisation.