Introduction
On April 15, 2026, at the “Study Group on Best Practices for Agrivoltaics”, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) presented an outline of proposed amendments to the basic policy set forth pursuant to the “Act on Promoting Generation of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources in Harmony with Sound Development of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries” (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”).[1] The proposed amendments set out certain “Criteria for Agrivoltaics Best Practices”. In addition, the study group presented policies for amending related regulations, including a new regulatory framework, as well as for stricter measures against existing operators.
This article provides an overview of the proposed regulatory reforms for agrivoltaics as presented at the study group meeting.
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Author: Saori Kawai (Partner)
Endnote
[1] Agrivoltaics refers to the practice of installing solar power generation equipment in the upper space of farmland by erecting pillars with a simple structure that can be easily removed, under a special temporary conversion permit, while continuing farming operations and generating electricity. If implemented appropriately, improvements in farm management can be expected through revenue from crop sales and self-consumption of generated electricity. However, despite the fundamental premise that appropriate continuation of farming must be maintained, there have been reports of inappropriate cases where coexistence with agriculture has not been achieved.