Energy

Solar Panels Mandatory in New Tokyo Homes Built After 2025

 

The local assembly in the Japanese capital Tokyo approved a new rule on Thursday mandating the installation of solar power panels in every new home constructed by large-scale homebuilders from April 2025.

The mandate, the first of its kind for a Japanese municipality, is aimed at cutting household carbon emissions in the world’s fifth-largest carbon emitting country.

It requires about 50 major builders to equip homes of up to 2,000 square metres (21,500 square feet) with renewable energy power sources, mainly solar panels.

 

Also on AF: Taiwan to Research Nuclear Fusion After US Breakthrough

 

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike noted last week that just 4% of buildings where solar panels could be installed in the city now have them. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 2000 levels.

Japan has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 but faces difficulty as it has relied heavily on coal-burning thermal power after most of its nuclear reactors were shut in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

“In addition to the existing global climate crisis, we face an energy crisis with a prolonged Russia-Ukraine war,” Risako Narikiyo, a member of Koike’s regional party Tomin First no Kai, said at the assembly on Thursday.

“There is no time to waste.”

 

  • Reuters, with additional editing by Vishakha Saxena

 

 

Read more:

China Goods Ban to Spur Big Drop in US Solar Installations

Solar Power Saves India $4.2 Billion in Fuel Costs – Mint

Qatar Opens its First Solar Plant Using China Tech – SCMP

China Ramps up Solar and Coal, But ‘Needs Better Power Grid’

Vishakha Saxena

Vishakha Saxena is the Multimedia and Social Media Editor at Asia Financial. She has been working as a digital journalist since 2013, and is an experienced writer and multimedia producer. As an eager stock market trader and investor, she is keenly interested in economy, emerging markets and the intersections of finance and society. You can tweet to her @saxenavishakha

Recent Posts

China Warns Dutch of ‘Consequences’ to Chip Tech Ban – SCMP

Tan Jian, the Chinese ambassador to the Netherlands, says export restrictions on Dutch chip technology…

2 hours ago

Australia’s Potential $11.3bn Batteries Bonanza: Accenture

Australia accounts for nearly half of the world's lithium supply and is ideally positioned to…

3 hours ago

China to Back High-End Manufacturing as US Ramps Up Pressure

Premier Li Qiang pledged to increase support to Chinese industries suffering from US tech and…

4 hours ago

Hyundai to Keep Buttons Amid Touchscreen Safety Fears – Drive

“When you’re driving, when it’s a hard key, it’s easy to sense and feel it,” said…

7 hours ago

South Korea Says New US Rules Won’t Shut Its China Chip Plants

Seoul reacts to proposed new limits for recipients of US chip manufacturing and research funding…

8 hours ago

India Approves $968 Million Investment From Foxconn Unit

Earlier this month, Foxconn said it was seeking cooperation in India in new areas like chips…

8 hours ago