How can cities move forward with decarbonization?

It is important to involve multiple stakeholders for cities to move forward with decarbonization. Hamamatsu-city, Shizuoka prefecture is leading the way with the use of renewable energy generation such as solar. Blessed with more than 2,460 daylight hours per year, Hamamatsu is one of the sunniest cities in Japan.

In 2014, Hamamatsu launched multiple subsidies and measures to promote the installation of solar panels not only for residents but also to increase investment from enterprises. The launch of Hamamatsu Solar Center was part of this project, supporting businesses interested in solar deployment in the city. The partnership with local banks also allowed the city to promote loans for solar-related products. As a result, the city succeeded in utilizing idle lots and school rooftops for large-scale solar panel installation.

Thanks to these efforts, the city has some of the highest solar generation capacity in the country. Moreover, in 2017, the amount of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions was 8.8% lower than in 2013.