Japan has no space for solar farms apart from old golf courses
Solar farms need good sunlight, access to the power grid and to be fairly close to residential areas. Many golf courses tick those boxes.
The story of Japan's dwindling space for solar farms is set against the backdrop of the country's dense population and mountainous terrain. Gunma Prefecture, located about two hours from Tokyo, is home to Minohara Country Club, a site that may soon be transformed by solar panels. As developers around the world face limitations on large-scale solar projects, Japan's golf courses have emerged as one of the few viable options.
Daisuke Toya, representative director of Kamisato Kensetsu, a company specializing in solar facility development, notes that there appears to be no space for mega solar projects in Japan. "The most we could do is buy up the golf course to use the land," he explains. This shift towards repurposing existing green spaces highlights the urgency and ingenuity required to meet Japan's renewable energy goals in a highly populated nation.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
