helping an older generation of rice producers. and a vertical farming taken to a whole new level. i farming taken to a whole new level. ., ., ., , this is tecthlore japan. it is known for its megacities, but japan is above all it is known for its megacities, butjapan is above all an island nation. hemmed in by the ocean on all sides, land is at a premium. that means when it comes to green energy, there is less room for the cheapest power source of all — solar. actually, the biggest change we are seeing right now is the rapidly decreasing costs for solar. it would be more expensive to operate fossil fuels than are solar in the near future. fuels than are solar in the nearfuture. figs fuels than are solar in the near future.— near future. as i start my sustainable _ near future. as i start my sustainable journey - near future. as i start my i sustainable journey through japan, i am sustainable journey through japan, iam headed sustainable journey through japan, i am headed to the islands of tokyo bay. this is the site of japan's first—ever offshore solar farm. the site of japan's first-ever offshore solar farm.- offshore solar farm. highly! nice to meet _ offshore solar farm. highly! nice to meet you! - offshore solar farm. highly! nice to meet you! here - offshore solar farm. highly! nice to meet you! here we | offshore solar farm. highly! i nice to meet you! here we will put our offshore platform. solar dark is the company behind the bill, part of a group of start—ups coming up with the designs for future urban life. that is the side down there?— urban life. that is the side down there? , , down there? basically this is a cda of the _ down there? basically this is a cda of the project _ down there? basically this is a cda of the project here - down there? basically this is a cda of the project here in - down there? basically this is a cda of the project here in the | cda of the project here in the tokyo bay. it cda of the pro'ect here in the tokyo say.— cda of the pro'ect here in the tokyo soy.— cda of the pro'ect here in the to 0 ba . , , ., , tokyo bay. it is designed to be modular. _ tokyo bay. it is designed to be modular. is — tokyo bay. it is designed to be modular, is unit _ tokyo bay. it is designed to be modular, is unit can _ tokyo bay. it is designed to be modular, is unit can power- tokyo bay. it is designed to be modular, is unit can power up| modular, is unit can power up 40 households a year. more can be added to meet demand. you can survive anything at the ocean can throw at it. the triangle — ocean can throw at it. the triangle has _ ocean can throw at it. the triangle has three - ocean can throw at it. the triangle has three exes i ocean can throw at it. tue triangle has three exes where it can rotate around. if there are waves from any direction, it is easy to follow in this make sure that we can actually also survive very high waves. it is a hugely impressive concept but even cleverer than the design of the solar farm is how the green energy producers could carry back to shore. nearby, another start—up is working on this side of the project. this little boat is the key and what i am here to see. how are you doing? good, nice to meet — see. how are you doing? good, nice to meet you. _ see. how are you doing? good, nice to meet you. this - see. how are you doing? good, nice to meet you. this is - nice to meet you. this is beautiful. _ nice to meet you. this is beautiful. a _ nice to meet you. this is beautiful. a wonderful . nice to meet you. this is i beautiful. a wonderful day, thank you _ beautiful. a wonderful day, thank you for _ beautiful. a wonderful day, thank you for coming, - beautiful. a wonderful day, | thank you for coming, check this out. the team is developing this vessel to collect small loads of renewable energy generated at sea. it is trying to get away. she is away! this boat uses a wind power to sale all their own with sensors navigating the course. they have on—board batteries which are charged by the solar farm. the power is gathered and can be transported by boat. the aim is these boats will operate in a fully, creating an affordable alternative to undersea cables. the cable has to be so big and it is really expensive for what we do is take these boats to a place where let's say we have a floating solar panel array or floating solar panel array or floating wind, a very common thing, and we can take the energy from those locations are transported to where it is needed. tt transported to where it is needed. , transported to where it is needed-— transported to where it is needed. , , u , needed. if this succeeds, it could be game _ needed. if this succeeds, it could be game changing. . needed. if this succeeds, it could be game changing. a| could be game changing. a completely different way of approaching energy transfer. at approaching energy transfer. at a time where the world must adopt green energy at pace. because the boat is a wind powered, no energy is needed for theirjourney, powered, no energy is needed fortheirjourney, meaning powered, no energy is needed for theirjourney, meaning the for their journey, meaning the whole for theirjourney, meaning the whole process is much more sustainable. irate whole process is much more sustainable.— whole process is much more sustainable. we are not using the energy — sustainable. we are not using the energy to _ sustainable. we are not using the energy to transport - sustainable. we are not using the energy to transport our i the energy to transport our energy, so it is a lost list system and so we can transport a kilometre, ten kilometres, 1000 kilometres, it does not matter. it 1000 kilometres, it does not matter. , ., , , 1000 kilometres, it does not matter. , , , matter. it is hoped these boys could bring — matter. it is hoped these boys could bring green _ matter. it is hoped these boys could bring green power- matter. it is hoped these boys could bring green power to - matter. it is hoped these boys. could bring green power to over 4 million people living on hundreds of islands across japan. the boats could also serve future floating projects like this one from japan's and r. floating islands it is, it could be _ r. floating islands it is, it could be mobile. - r. floating islands it is, it could be mobile. imagine| r. floating islands it is, it- could be mobile. imagine the workers are constantly transporting to the mothership. it has been fascinating to see how a technology as old as time, a simple sale, has been repurposed to deliver a sustainable energy solution. it will be really interesting to see how it develops in years to come. 0ne see how it develops in years to come. one year ago, see how it develops in years to come. 0ne yearago, i see how it develops in years to come. one year ago, i visited the other side of tokyo to see japan's first bottom fixed on a short winter term by. the noise is something else. it is intimidating. as i found out, the bigger blades commonly seen at sea and on land have drawbacks. most wind turbines are stopped working at around 90 kilometres per hour. anything more puts their blaze at risk of damage. across asia, high wind typhoons are becoming ever more common. i am visiting a start—up that has made a new type of turbine and surprisingly there is not a single propeller blade in a site. this is itjust here? yes, this is our turbine. this is on one — yes, this is our turbine. this is on one of— yes, this is our turbine. this is on one of the _ yes, this is our turbine. this is on one of the urban - is on one of the urban evacuation sites where locals gather in emergencies. it's a vertical access can catch wind from any direction and it is practically silent. everyone can charge _ practically silent. everyone can charge the _ practically silent. everyone can charge the phone. - practically silent. everyone | can charge the phone. that practically silent. everyone i can charge the phone. that is tood, i can charge the phone. that is good, i am lower— can charge the phone. that is good, i am lower dues, - can charge the phone. that is good, i am lower dues, let'sl good, i am lower dues, let's give it a go. it good, i am lower dues, let's give it a go-_ give it a go. it is charging. it is! give it a go. it is charging. it is! this _ give it a go. it is charging. it is! this is _ give it a go. it is charging. it is! this is a _ give it a go. it is charging. it is! this is a small- it is! this is a small prototype. a ten kilowatts version is on another island. it can operate in high winds and crucially it's propeller free design makes it much more resilient to typhoons. it is not that windy today and it is still turning pretty fast. when the winds do stop these working, solar panels continue to generate energy. local communities often have a bit of push against renewable energy because it is noisy, it takes up too much space, but if you have projects like these which can be erected in urban places, i think this would be really important to push the renewable acceleration forward. japan is getting used to ever stronger typhoons but when it comes to showing resilience, few places come close to my next destination. fukushima. japan's biggest ever earthquake in 2011 caused a tsunami and the fukushima nuclear plant went into meltdown. the devastation displaced over 150,000 people and many never returned. i am 150,000 people and many never returned. iam heading 150,000 people and many never returned. i am heading to the north of the region, a place rebuilt to entice populations back to the area with unrivalled green credentials. this project serves as a testbed of ideas which could be rolled out across japan and around the world. everything here is connected. the solar farm collect the samples make energy. it farm collect the samples make enero. . , farm collect the samples make enero. .,'~ energy. it produces 1.6 megawatts _ energy. it produces 1.6 megawatts of - energy. it produces 1.6 i megawatts of electricity. energy. it produces 1.6 - megawatts of electricity. on megawatts of electricity. 0n sunny days, it produces more energy than the neighbourhood needs. , ., , , needs. usually it is during the battery storage _ needs. usually it is during the battery storage process - needs. usually it is during the battery storage process a - needs. usually it is during the battery storage process a lot. battery storage process a lot of this power is lost. this facility looks _ of this power is lost. this facility looks quite - of this power is lost. this| facility looks quite simple of this power is lost. try 3 facility looks quite simple but this is where the surplus energy is converted into hydrogen. energy is converted into hydrogen-— energy is converted into hydrogen. energy is converted into hdrooen. , ., , hydrogen. hydrogen is a very efficient way _ hydrogen. hydrogen is a very efficient way of _ hydrogen. hydrogen is a very efficient way of storing - hydrogen. hydrogen is a very| efficient way of storing energy because very little is wasted. it doesn't through which is splitting hydrogen and oxygen out of water? beyond the energy efficiency, hydrogen is being used to test loss of cutting—edge ideas. some is combined with c02 capture from the atmosphere to create eco—friendly fuel for locals. this is the emf aim dispenser. the small mini band for elderly people to move around. first methane dispensary injapan. methane dispensary in japan. wow, methane dispensary injapan. wow, look at that. these fish ponds are aerated with oxygen left from the hydrogen processes. wow, i can see them, they are massive. here comes, look at him. dinner time for them. the letters gets nutrients from the fish and they thrive on carbon dioxide that has been captured and pumped in from outside. i don't have green fingers but they look pretty healthy to me. the local pharmacies fertiliser made from repurposed sewage. irate made from repurposed sewage. - palletised the waste. made from repurposed sewage. we palletised the waste. rather - palletised the waste. rather than having _ palletised the waste. rather than having to _ palletised the waste. rather than having to track - palletised the waste. rather than having to track it - palletised the waste. rather| than having to track it around the country, you use it here to grow things and save energy? exactly. it grow things and save energy? exactl . , ., ., exactly. it is one of them most sustainable _ exactly. it is one of them most sustainable projects _ exactly. it is one of them most sustainable projects i - exactly. it is one of them most sustainable projects i have - sustainable projects i have ever seen. the ideas here are being driven by this man. everything here is designed to make the project more sustainable. a fresh look at bringing green energy into the community. if an earthquake what to strike again, the hydrogen willpower vital services. something we tested any simulated power cuts. the lights come on!— lights come on! almost immediately. _ lights come on! almost immediately. the - lights come on! almost | immediately. the gases lights come on! almost - immediately. the gases five dock to be _ immediately. the gases five dock to be converted - immediately. the gases five dock to be converted to - dock to be converted to electricity. i can hear that. and offside to the disaster relief centre. it all happens automatically enemies that people can still get electricity even when everything is gone down? yes, ou are everything is gone down? yes, you are right- _ everything is gone down? yes, you are right. in _ everything is gone down? yes, you are right. in either- you are right. in either something _ you are right. in either something big, - you are right. in either- something big, something to you are right. in either— something big, something to say that this is the future, but it is a place where people can come and live. boy, have they delivered. sustainable energy solutions will be vital across the world. japan has another concern, maintaining sustainable communities. i am travelling to hundred 50 kilometres north of tokyo to a small town that is at risk of disappearing. it translated into english as a long field and considering how lush and green it looks outside, that seems pretty fitting. rice, so synonymous with japanese cuisine, has grown here for over 2000 years but those who farm at a struggling to keep up. more than half of the residents he are over 60, as farming for the out—of—favour and youngsters are lord by the lifestyle of the cities, the review a people able to attend to vital crop. i am meeting a woman from a start—up supporting farms as the labour force shrinks.— force shrinks. how are you? lovely to — force shrinks. how are you? lovely to meet _ force shrinks. how are you? lovely to meet you. - force shrinks. how are you? lovely to meet you. this - force shrinks. how are you? lovely to meet you. this isl force shrinks. how are you? | lovely to meet you. this is a rice field? it is beautiful. it is a lot helio than i was expecting. razor dames keep the water in each field but it means significant weeding for farmers who must patrol the paths to spread fertiliser and deter pests. farmers like this. for ageing farmers, it is robots to the rescue, as this smart phone mower keeps weeds in check. , , , ,, smart phone mower keeps weeds in check. , , , , , ., in check. just press here, and then push _ in check. just press here, and then push pilot. _ in check. just press here, and then push pilot. just- in check. just press here, and then push pilot. just press - then push pilot. just press that and — then push pilot. just press that and off _ then push pilot. just press that and off it _ then push pilot. just press that and off it goes? - then push pilot. just press - that and off it goes? amazing! how does the robot nowhere to go first, human has to tell them and then a robot can run independently by using sensors. facing many more hazards and tougher terrain than your average lawnmower, data from satellite systems, direction, geomagnetic thermal sensors keep the robot on track so just one pilot can monitor several mowers at a time.— one pilot can monitor several mowers at a time. central power can see the _ mowers at a time. central power can see the map _ mowers at a time. central power can see the map here. _ mowers at a time. central power can see the map here. i - mowers at a time. central power can see the map here. i can - mowers at a time. central power can see the map here. i can see| can see the map here. i can see where it is _ can see the map here. i can see where it is in — can see the map here. i can see where it is in the _ can see the map here. i can see where it is in the field _ can see the map here. i can see where it is in the field right - where it is in the field right now. this prototype uses petrol but is due in electric upgrade next year as a team works to bring a subscription service to farmers like this one, his been testing the robot since 2019. translation:— testing the robot since 2019. translation: ,, , ., , translation: supporting farmers is not enough _ translation: supporting farmers is not enough to _ translation: supporting farmers is not enough to save _ translation: supporting farmers is not enough to save this - translation: supporting farmers is not enough to save this area - is not enough to save this area on its own. is not enough to save this area on its own-— on its own. just down the road is the nomad _ on its own. just down the road is the nomad work _ on its own. just down the road is the nomad work centre, - on its own. just down the road is the nomad work centre, the j is the nomad work centre, the hub where tech pioneers can create projects from the seat of nature. the neighbouring campsite attracts eco— friendly tourism but they need staff to man it round—the—clock. are there hikes nearby? so the team is training a it help visitors when real—life humans cannot. i have questions about the campground. have questions about the campground-— have questions about the campground. are bonfires allowed on _ campground. are bonfires allowed on the _ campground. are bonfires allowed on the campsite? j campground. are bonfires - allowed on the campsite? open fires are not _ allowed on the campsite? open fires are not allowed, _ allowed on the campsite? open fires are not allowed, please i fires are not allowed, please use a fire pit or barbecue. good advise! wow! this space is beautiful! i can absolutely see the appeal of coming to spaces like this to work or explore and what a view for dinner! not only can robots help ageing farmers put locally sourced food on the table, but sites like this are boosting interest and reinvigorating the local community. it is inspiring to witness efforts to preserve this area and is iconic rice patties. climate change is making traditional farming patties. climate change is making traditionalfarming more making traditional farming more difficult making traditionalfarming more difficult the world over. i have seen vertical farming with its bright purple lights in japan before but the next project i am visiting is on a whole other level! and i am one of its first outside visitors. hello! the most extreme steps are required even to intel. all of this to ensure the facility is kept hygienically sealed. i'm going into an airlock, what will happen next? wow! this is an experience! what is waiting for me is breathtaking. wow! it is absolutely huge! incredible! it is like being in a farm in outer space and like outer space, very few humans can come here. this is like no farm i have ever seen. all of the growing is happening behind these sealed units, a completely closed system. this is our system. _ completely closed system. this is our system. there _ completely closed system. this is our system. there is - completely closed system. this is our system. there is so - completely closed system. this| is our system. there is so much torowin is our system. there is so much growing here- — is our system. there is so much growing here. what _ is our system. there is so much growing here. what is _ is our system. there is so much growing here. what is the - growing here. what is the advantages of growing like this? �* , advantages of growing like this?�* , this? because the closed system can control _ this? because the closed system can control the _ this? because the closed system can control the inside _ this? because the closed system can control the inside very - can control the inside very precisely, the temperature, humidity and the c02 concentration, there are 20 parameters. in concentration, there are 20 parameters— concentration, there are 20 parameters. in allowing such microcontroller, _ parameters. in allowing such microcontroller, this - parameters. in allowing such microcontroller, this closed i microcontroller, this closed system is already proving weight greener. ohm system is already proving weight greener.— system is already proving weioht oreener. �* .,, _, weight greener. an open system waste half of _ weight greener. an open system waste half of the _ weight greener. an open system waste half of the light _ weight greener. an open system waste half of the light on - waste half of the light on lead. . , . waste half of the light on lead. ., , ., ., ~ waste half of the light on lead, ., , ., ., ~ ,':ifi lead. that is quite a lot! a 30 metre long — lead. that is quite a lot! a 30 metre long robotic _ lead. that is quite a lot! a 30 metre long robotic system i lead. that is quite a lot! a 30| metre long robotic system sits at the heart of all of this. where 150,000 lettuces are being grown forjapan's biggest supermarket group. here comes some freshly grown lettuce. truly automatic. 0ne some freshly grown lettuce. truly automatic. one of the benefits of doing it all automatically rather than having people do this work? the machine having people do this work? tye: machine operation is having people do this work? ti2 machine operation is totally clean so we do not need to wash the vegetables before eating. we can save resources such as water, which is good for the planet. water, which is good for the lanet. , . , water, which is good for the lanet. , . y planet. this lettuce saves 12 litres per— planet. this lettuce saves 12 litres per water? _ planet. this lettuce saves 12 litres per water? per - planet. this lettuce saves 12 litres per water? per head. | planet. this lettuce saves 12 i litres per water? per head. per head of lettuce? _ litres per water? per head. per head of lettuce? that - litres per water? per head. per head of lettuce? that is - litres per water? per head. per head of lettuce? that is a - litres per water? per head. per head of lettuce? that is a lot i head of lettuce? that is a lot of water! in the start—up's lab, i am shown other greens, like basil. lab, i am shown other greens, like ihash-— like basil. you can smell it. you really _ like basil. you can smell it. you really can't, _ like basil. you can smell it. you really can't, it - like basil. you can smell it. you really can't, it smells l you really can't, it smells amazing! it is making me hungry! — as really can. but not everything is for eating. because of the position, plants medicinal use can be grown more easily. i can see the flowers. they are very small at the minute "lucy them. these are being grown for painkillers. 0thers, being grown for painkillers. others, for cancer research. the system is so precise, the most difficult plants to grow can be sourced at speed. how does that feel helping to research plants that may one day cure illnesses like cancer? and without him ensuring the environment, oxygen levels can be dropped in temperatures pushed to extremes, whatever is necessary to perfect each ingredient. what is happening here really is incredible. and as we all live longer, it is another example of japan's innovators helping us all live better. how to live sustainability is the question the whole world is trying to answer. whether it is finding new energy solutions or thinking differently about how we live and age together, japan is working on ideas that can inspire us all. perfect! perfect! hello there. next week will gradually turn milder, wetter and windier. but before then, this weekend, we're still in this very cold and frosty air with quite a few wintry hazards to come this weekend. there'll be some areas of fog, which will be slow to lift. we've also got the risk of snow and ice, but this time probably a bit further south across the uk. now these are the temperatures we're starting with first thing in the morning, a widespread frost, could be as low as —10 celsius in scotland. and following the earlier showers around these coastal areas, some icy patches, so too with that wintry weather coming into south west scotland. this is the area of mist, fog and low cloud. it will gradually shrink, break up, some sunshine comes through in most parts of the country. could stay grey and murky across parts of east anglia and lincolnshire. we've got more of these showers coming into north west england, into west wales and the far south west of england. it is going to be a cold day on saturday after that frosty start, typical temperatures in the afternoon, one 1—3 celsius. and coming into that colder air, this wet weather will push its way eastwards, brings the risk of some sleet and snow inland, mainly north of the mit, up into northern england. but it could turn very icy for a while, even the risk of some quite dangerous freezing rain. bit drier for scotland and also for northern ireland, very frosty once again in scotland. temperatures again could be down to —10 celsius or so. heading into sunday, and we've still got some of that wet weather along the easten most parts of england, bit of sleet and snow in that, that will move away. and then across these southern areas, some more rain develops, the risk of some sleet and snow just on the northern edge. a lot of cloud for england and wales. a few showers coming into northern ireland, still dry and quite sunny, i think, in scotland. particularly cold here through the day. temperatures rising a bit in that rain in the south, could make double figures in the south west of england. and overnight we may see some more rain coming in as well. but this area of low pressure is deepening, the winds are strengthening, and that is moving northwards into that block of colder air. so not only have we got some wet and windy weather, we've also got the risk of some snow falling in some inland areas. and even further north with those winds off the north sea, quite a few wintry showers coming into eastern parts of scotland and some showers feeding through the irish sea into western areas of wales. those temperatures beginning to risejust a little bit, but there is milder weather later on in the week. live from washington, this is bbc news. a child says goodbye to his father — one of dozens of people killed in israeli air strikes, as hostilities resume. families forced to move from the north to the south of gaza now face the threat of bombardment there too. translation: we want to go back to homes of— translation: we want to go back to homes of the _ translation: we want to go back to homes of the north _ translation: we want to go back to homes of the north because - to homes of the north because we feel strangers here. expelled: the us congressman accused of fraud, lying and stealing. george santos is kicked out by the house of representatives. plus: the first woman to sit on the us supreme court has died. sandra day o'connor was 93 years old. have you with us. fighting has resumed in gaza after a 7—day ceasefire between israel and hamas expired. israel says it has hit 200 "terror targets"