Setagaya turns old school into solar hub to power 50 homes

A project led by Minden renewable energy platform operator UPDATER Inc. is launching in autumn 2025, repurposing solar panels installed on a decommissioned school in Setagaya to supply renewable energy to approximately 50 local households, promoting a local energy production.

The project gives a second life to both a building and the technology on its roof. It involves installing a 55-kilowatt solar array on the former rooftop swimming pool site of what is now the HOME/WORK VILLAGE community facility. The solar panels are not new, as they were previously used at a retail facility in the greater Tokyo area and have been sourced for reuse through Mitsui & Co. Project Solutions and LIXIA Corporation. This approach extends the life of the panels.

The project is provisionally named “Setagaya PPA,” and allows individuals to subscribe to a portion of the power plant’s output through UPDATER’s cloud-based service. This model makes solar power accessible to residents in flats or other housing where personal panel installation is not feasible. Priority for the subscription slots will be given to residents of Setagaya Ward.

“To advance decarbonisation in Setagaya, it is most effective to switch the electricity used in homes, a major source of emissions, to natural energy. It is important to produce and use electricity locally,” said Nobuto Hosaka, Mayor of Setagaya. “This project is a true example of ‘local production for local consumption,’ where Setagaya residents use natural energy generated on the roof of a familiar local facility.”