Tokyo’s Solar Panel Mandate

Akihabara News (Tokyo) — The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s plan to mandate the installation of solar panels in all newly-built houses and other “small- to medium-sized” buildings in the city is facing criticism that the policy remains in an immature state.

The initiative, still in the deliberation phase, would see the city’s fifty largest housing providers be required to install solar panels on all new construction projects with a floor area of less than 2,000 square meters.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike argues that this policy will form an integral part of the metropolis’ target of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. She hopes the installations will go some way toward mitigating residential emissions, which form 30% of the city’s total.

Officials also suggest the merits of the plan extend beyond environmental issues. Detached houses with two or more people could expect to see power bill savings of ¥92,400 (US$675) per year.

However, critics argue that the policy is being forced through without thinking through all of its implications.

One problem these critics cite is the financial burden on ordinary citizens. The base cost of installing a new solar panel is estimated to be around ¥1 million (US$7,300). Observers fear these costs will be passed on to home buyers.

For its part, the metropolitan government asserts that various cost-saving measures are under consideration, and this will alleviate such concerns.

Additionally, while solar panels undoubtedly provide green energy, some critics believe that the recycling of panels after their thirty years of service has not been given due attention by the authorities.

So far, the Tokyo government has suggested that centers for “solar power generation equipment” recycling will be established, but it has not provided further detail.

At any event, the metropolitan government has been keen to stress the “flexible” nature of its policy. Governor Koike, in a speech before the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, stated that “individuals can choose whether or not to install the equipment,” suggesting that there may be exceptions to the mandate under some circumstances.

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