In May, Ricoh announced that it will partially switch its headquarters’ electricity to renewable energy from the Group’s first offsite Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) power plant, in collaboration with UPDATER Inc. and Nihonmatsu Community Power Co., Ltd. from May 2025.
Agrivoltaic power generation—where solar panels and agriculture coexist— is gaining attention in Japan as a promising path toward a decarbonized society. The power plant that will supply renewable energy to Ricoh is built on repurposed farmland and has been selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) as a Model Project Support Program for Agrivoltaics, led by local farmers.
This facility features cutting-edge technology, such as movable-frame solar panels that track the sun’s angle for optimal output and vertically mounted solar panels designed to generate power, even in low-sunlight conditions, such as early morning and evening. These innovations are expected to significantly improve power generation efficiency while supporting sustainable land use.
Ricoh evaluates all renewable energy procurements using its Comprehensive Evaluation System for Renewable Electricity developed in fiscal 2021. This framework assesses potential energy suppliers and their electricity plans from economic, social, and environmental perspectives. Ricoh’s headquarters currently operates on 100% renewable energy supplied by UPDATER. By partially switching to renewable energy from the agrivoltaics plant, Ricoh said it aims to deepen its environmental impact while further contributing to local sustainability.
Since becoming the first Japanese company to join the global RE100 initiative in April 2017, Ricoh has steadily increased its use of renewable electricity. The company is now accelerating efforts to source high-quality renewable energy with additionality—investing in new renewable projects that expand overall capacity.
To date, Ricoh has implemented both on-site physical PPAs, using its own facilities, and off-site virtual PPAs to diversify its energy portfolio. Looking ahead, Ricoh will strengthen its focus on renewable energy solutions that benefit local communities and drive the growth of new clean energy sources.
Ricoh explained that it is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2040, in line with its RE100 pledge, and across its whole value chain (Scope 1, 2, and 3) by 2050. As an interim goal, Ricoh aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63% by 2030 (compared to 2015 levels), a target certified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) under the 1.5°C pathway.
The company sets and discloses progress against annual milestones.
