The result is that a relic of Japan’s economic bubble is playing an unlikely role in the country’s energy transition. For the past decade, defunct golf courses have been vital to solar growth. About 9% of Japan’s utility-scale solar capacity is on former golf courses, according to an analysis of a BloombergNEF data that includes arrays with capacity of 0.9 megawatts or greater.
There’s space. There is tons of agricultural-zoned land (and probably sanrin-zoned (literally montainforest; I don’t know what it would be in English… forestry maybe) as well) that is completely neglected. Indeed several farms near me now have solar on some or all. I haven’t personally seen any agrivoltaics with vertical panels yet which could be another option. My local has tons of farms for sale/rent that could be used since no one’s buying.
Additionally, there are plenty of areas that are monoculture cedar forests planted for lumber. I don’t buy “there’s no room”. I am, of course, glad to get rid of old eyesores and golf courses.