18 MW virtual PPA enables NIKE Japan to source 100% renewable electricity for stores, offices, and distribution centers.
Agreement supplies Non FIT Non Fossil Certificates from 16 solar plants in the TEPCO grid region.
Deal combines new and recently built solar capacity, reinforcing Japan’s corporate decarbonization momentum.
Mitsui & Co. Project Solutions have signed a long term virtual power purchase agreement with NIKE Japan Group to supply renewable energy attributes generated from domestic solar power projects. The agreement allows NIKE Japan to match all electricity consumed across its owned and operated facilities with renewable energy.
Under the arrangement, Mitsui and Mitsui & Co. Project Solutions will provide Non FIT Non Fossil Certificates derived from 16 solar power plants located within the TEPCO Power Grid service area. The contract covers 18 megawatts of solar capacity, including 3 megawatts from newly developed projects and 15 megawatts from recently commissioned facilities.
The structure enables NIKE Japan to source 100 percent of electricity used at its distribution centers, retail stores, and offices from renewable energy, aligning its domestic operations with broader global climate commitments.
Corporate Procurement Drives Japan’s Renewable Market
Virtual power purchase agreements are emerging as a key instrument for multinational companies operating in Japan, where direct renewable procurement options remain limited compared with Europe and North America. By purchasing environmental attributes rather than physical electricity, corporations can support renewable generation while maintaining grid reliability.
The use of Non FIT Non Fossil Certificates is particularly significant. Unlike feed in tariff backed certificates, Non FIT certificates originate from projects operating outside Japan’s subsidy framework, signaling market driven renewable expansion and improving transparency around corporate Scope 2 emissions reporting.
Japan’s policy landscape has increasingly encouraged corporate renewable procurement to support national decarbonization goals and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Agreements like this contribute to expanding domestic solar capacity while strengthening energy security.
RELATED ARTICLE: Portugal’s Galp, Japan’s Mitsui Invests €650M in Renewable Diesel and SAF Production
Mitsui Expands Integrated Energy Solutions
Mitsui stated the project reflects its commitment to deploying renewable energy through integrated capabilities across electricity sales, supply demand balancing, generation development, and operational management.
The company noted that it will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through the wider deployment of renewable energy by combining its accumulated expertise in electricity sales and supply demand balancing with Mitsui & Co. Project Solutions’ knowledge in power generation development and operational management.
The initiative aligns with Mitsui’s corporate mission, “Build brighter futures, everywhere,” and its material sustainability priorities. The company expects the project to contribute to “Establish a foundation for sustainable and stable supply” and “Create a community coexisting with nature.”
Corporate Climate Commitments Meet Operational Reality
For NIKE Japan, the agreement delivers a measurable pathway toward emissions reductions across operational energy use. Distribution centers and retail networks represent significant electricity demand, making renewable sourcing critical to decarbonization strategies.
Corporate buyers increasingly rely on VPPAs to meet science based targets and investor expectations, particularly in regions where renewable procurement structures are evolving. Transparent certificate backed arrangements provide verifiable emissions reductions and help companies manage climate risk disclosures tied to frameworks such as TCFD and emerging global reporting standards.
Regional and Global Significance
Japan remains one of the world’s largest energy importers, and corporate renewable procurement is becoming an essential pillar of the country’s transition strategy. Partnerships between global brands and domestic energy developers accelerate renewable deployment while supporting grid resilience and local generation.
The Mitsui and NIKE Japan agreement reflects a broader shift in Asia’s energy markets, where multinational demand, policy alignment, and financial innovation are converging to expand clean power capacity. As corporate climate commitments tighten and disclosure requirements strengthen, long term renewable procurement structures are expected to play an increasingly central role in decarbonizing supply chains and operational footprints across the region.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn
