Yanmar and Kubota Launch Agricultural Solar Power Initiative in Japan
Tokyo, Wednesday, 11 June 2025.
On June 11, 2025, Yanmar introduced a project combining agriculture with solar energy to tackle abandoned farmland, while Kubota expanded solar operations in Tochigi, marking a renewable energy push.
Integrating Solar Power with Agriculture
Yanmar Holdings has launched a pioneering agricultural solar power initiative aimed at addressing both renewable energy needs and the issue of abandoned farmland in Japan. By leasing agricultural land for solar installations, Yanmar is able to combine traditional farming practices with power generation. This dual-use approach not only helps fight the growing issue of farmland abandonment due to a decline in farming populations, but also aligns with the broader national agenda of increasing renewable energy production [1].
Kubota’s Expansion in Renewable Energy
In tandem, Kubota Corp is expanding its solar power projects significantly within Tochigi Prefecture, a move that will see the scale of their agrivoltaics operations grow from 20 hectares to about 80 hectares. This expansion is part of a larger strategy by Kubota to increase their renewable energy capacity to approximately 20 megawatts, thereby enhancing the integration of solar technology into agricultural operations [2].
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Both companies are championing this move towards renewable energy as part of Japan’s Green Growth Strategy, which aims to elevate the percentage of renewable energy to 36-38% of the national energy mix by 2030, from 18% in 2019. This shift is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable farming by providing farmers with an additional income source from energy sales, thereby stabilizing farm economies and enhancing their viability [2][3].
A Sustainable Path Forward
The initiatives by Yanmar and Kubota underscore the growing trend of agrifood innovation that marries technology with sustainability goals. These projects not only increase the productivity and efficiency of farms but also help in addressing pressing environmental concerns by reducing carbon footprints and supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy supply chain. As Kubota and Yanmar push forward with their initiatives, they set a precedent for integrating clean energy solutions within the agricultural domain [2][4].