Japan to start buying solar panels on roofs

The economy ministry plans to introduce a system in which solar panels can be purchased on the roofs of company buildings, factories and warehouses at 20% higher prices than the power generated by panels on the ground.

There are limited places where solar panels can be installed, so the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry wants to encourage the proliferation of renewable energy sources through the use of roof space.

Solar power facilities have risen rapidly due to the system of purchasing electric power from them at fixed prices, a practice that began in 2012. Japan now has the world s highest capacity of installed facilities for its land area, but the remaining land plots suitable for installing solar panels are small.

The new pricing system will start in October. By March 2025, the panels of solar power generation businesses that have at least 10 kilowatts of output capacity will be eligible.

Electric power from solar panels will be purchased at 12 per kilowatt-hour if solar panels are installed on roofs. This is 20% higher than the 10 for power from panels on flat ground that have an output capacity between 10 kilowatts and less than 50 kilowatts.

It is sometimes necessary to build scaffolds to install rooftop panels or panels when they are repaired. Installing panels on roofs is more costly than doing it on the ground.

The costs of buying the power they produce will be passed on to electricity bills. A ministry official said that this will not put a heavy financial burden on the public, even if the new purchasing price is 20% higher.

The government stipulated that renewable energy will be a main electric power source in its 2021 energy basic plan.