A Game Changer for Agriculture and Energy Production

In Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, a noteworthy advancement is underway as vertical solar panels make their debut on rice paddies, signaling a shift in Japan's agricultural landscape. This innovative approach to farming, known as agrivoltaics, enables farmers to maximize their land by producing crops alongside generating photovoltaic energy, thus potentially enhancing their income from smaller plots of land.

Installed by Sharing Farm in May 2024, these vertical solar panels allowed for an autumn harvest of 868 kilograms of rice, a decline of only 5 percent compared to the previous year, demonstrating that crops can thrive even with this dual use of land. The farm has partnered with Marubeni Power Retail Corp. to sell the electricity generated by these panels, which are strategically designed to capture sunlight effectively without hindering farming operations due to their vertical orientation.

Unlike traditional horizontal solar panels, vertical installations create fewer limitations regarding the height of agricultural machinery that can be used, as they stand upright. This design also allows both sides of the panels to generate power during the morning and evening, times when energy demand peaks, thus enhancing their efficiency. Taiki Akasaka from Sharing Farm expressed optimism about the impact, noting the lower-than-expected effect on crop yield and the potential for broader adoption of this technology if costs can be reduced.

The concept of vertical solar panels has been around in Japan for about 15 years, yet now it's poised for significant growth, particularly in regions that experience heavy snowfall. According to officials from the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association, vertical solar installations are expected to increase by 20 to 30 percent annually, mainly in these snowy areas, due to their resilience against winter conditions and innovative capacity to harness reflected light from snow.