17-12-2022 : To reduce domestic carbon emissions, the municipal assembly of the Japanese capital established a new ordinance requiring the installation of solar power panels in all new homes constructed in Tokyo by large-scale homebuilders from April 2025. Japan is currently ranked fifth among the world’s biggest carbon emitters. This new legislation for newly constructed homes compels around 50 large builders to outfit residences with renewable energy power sources, primarily solar panels, for homes up to 2,000 square metres (21,500 square feet). Just 4% of the buildings in the city of Tokyo, where solar panels could be put, currently have them, according to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. As opposed to 2000 levels, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.
This policy is intended to promote the use of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions in the city. The solar panels will be required to have a minimum capacity of 2.6 kilowatts, and the cost of installing the panels will be covered by the homebuilder. The policy applies to both single-family homes and multi-family dwellings.
This policy is part of a broader effort by the Japanese government to increase the use of renewable energy in the country. Japan has set a goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in its overall energy mix to at least 22-24% by 2030. The government has also implemented a number of other measures to encourage the use of solar energy, including financial incentives for households and businesses that install solar panels.
Overall, the policy requiring solar panels on new homes in Tokyo is an important step in the city’s efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and move towards a more sustainable energy system.
Japan is the world’s fifth-largest carbon emitter. The country has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. However, it faces difficulty as Japan has relied heavily on coal-burning thermal power after most of its nuclear reactors were in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.