[Naru41]

Utility-scale solar is very unpopular in Japan. Because most suitable lands of them are densely forested, and installing utility-scale solar systems requires destory the forests.

There are concerns landslides due to reduced water storage functionality, and emotional antipathy at having their hometowns' mountains covered with solar panels.

[toomuchtodo]

How does the depopulation of rural areas contribute to this, if at all?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/15/in-japans-ageing-co...

https://theconversation.com/when-a-countrys-towns-and-villag...

https://old.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/bcnga2/japan_populat...

(utility scale solar generators typically have a 35 year lifetime, so in areas of Japan where you’re not cutting down forests, it makes sense to build where depopulation is occurring in a “last person out shut off the light” sort of way before the rural community goes extinct)

[LargoLasskhyfv]

https://japaninsides.com/japans-floating-solar-farm-with-500...