In many respects, Takeshi Magami’s farm is like any other in Japan, growing everything from potatoes to ginger and eggplants, but one major difference sets it apart from its neighbors: the 2,826 solar panels perched above the crops.
The panels, covering much of the one hectare of land in the tranquil countryside east of Tokyo, serve a dual purpose. They supply nearly all the power needed to run the farm, and are a source of extra income by selling surplus renewable energy to the grid.
For Magami, that can mean ￥24 million (US$187,698) of additional revenue a year, eight times more than