Overview

• The dual-axis, sun-tracking array generated nearly 44,000 kilowatt-hours per year at 961.4 kWh per installed kilowatt, matching European agrivoltaic benchmarks.
• Rice yields under the panels rose from 75% in the first growing season to 85% in the second, with grain meeting Japan’s top quality standards.
• Levelized electricity costs were estimated at 27 yen per kilowatt-hour over a 20-year lifespan without subsidies, aligning with typical household rates.
• University of Tokyo researchers plan to integrate AI-based real-time angle optimization and test semi-transparent or high-efficiency photovoltaic materials to reduce shading.
• Japanese officials aim to install 100 megawatts of ultra-thin solar panels by 2027 to expand land-efficient renewable capacity.