Japan Launches Solar Farm That Grows Rice and Clean Energy

Imagine solar panels that know when to step aside so rice can grow.

Tokyo-based energy company Idemitsu Kosan just switched on a groundbreaking solar farm in Komatsushima City that does exactly that. The 2 megawatt installation floats nearly 4 meters above active rice paddies, producing clean electricity while farmers work the land below.

The system uses smart technology developed by Clean Energy Japan that automatically tilts bifacial solar panels throughout the year. From April to August, the panels angle to let maximum sunlight reach the growing rice while still capturing energy on their backsides. During the off season, they pivot to maximize electricity generation.

Farmers can drive tractors and machinery right underneath the elevated panels. They also receive a portion of the electricity profits as land rent, creating a reliable income stream that could help solve one of rural Japan's biggest challenges.

The country's agricultural communities face an aging workforce and growing numbers of young people leaving farming behind. Abandoned farmland continues to spread as fewer families take up the trade. This dual-use approach offers farmers a financial cushion that makes staying on the land more viable.

The Ripple Effect

Idemitsu's vision extends far beyond this single rice paddy. The company estimates that converting just 5% of Japan's farmland to similar agrivoltaic systems would double the nation's current solar capacity.

That level of expansion would significantly strengthen Japan's energy independence while keeping agricultural land productive. The approach addresses food security and energy security simultaneously, two critical concerns for an island nation with limited natural resources.

The project builds on a successful 45 kilowatt pilot program in nearby Chiba Prefecture. That smaller installation proved rice could thrive under solar panels without sacrificing yield or quality, giving farmers confidence in the technology.

Research from the University of Tokyo confirms these dual-use systems can actually support rice productivity. Scientists have also identified double-axis tracking as ideal for agricultural solar installations, technology that continues improving.

Japan's photovoltaic industry recently released voluntary guidelines for agricultural solar projects, including safety standards and land-sharing best practices. The framework signals growing momentum for agrivoltaics despite earlier setbacks when authorities suspended incentives for over 300 projects.

Idemitsu plans to expand the model and build partnerships that spread agricultural solar generation across Japan. Each new installation could help a farming family stay on their land while contributing clean energy to the grid.

The future might not require choosing between food and power after all.