The government of Tokyo, Japan, has announced this week that it plans to require solar panels to be installed on new buildings and homes by April 2025. This move will make Tokyo the first city in Japan to require all new homes to have solar electricity. The solar panel requirement will apply to all new houses and buildings with a total floor space of less than 2,000 square meters, but will exclude houses with roof space of less than 20 square meters.
The governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, said that the government will work with the industry and community to implement a subsidy program to help encourage uptake.
“Gaining understanding and cooperation from residents and business operators is indispensable for the smooth launch of the system,’ Koike said.
Additionally, developers will have to meet new energy-saving standards, such as using materials with a high level of thermal insulation and improved window sashes.
Koike said she hopes the new initiative will mark a turning point in history, after which it can be said that “Tokyo has changed.”
The solar panel requirement is part of a pledge The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) made in 2020 to halve greenhouse emissions in the city by 2030. The government also promised to increase renewable energy by around fifty percent.
