Dramatic increase in uptake of solar subsidies

Chugoku Shinbun reports a dramatic increase in the number of householders applying for solar energy subsidies in Kure City.

There were 312 applications over the past financial year, up from 143 the previous year and many more than the previous high of 171 in 2009.

Kure residents who install solar power systems, or buy new houses already equipped with a system, are eligible for a subsidy of ¥20,000 per kilowatt, up to ¥80,000.

The turning point was, of course, the “fallout” from the triple disaster in Tohoku last March, after which the entire nation was asked to watch their energy consumption and went into what was described as “setsuden mood“. Chugoku Shinbun reports that, according to Kure City government, there has been a marked change in the motivation of applicants since the disaster, more of whom are less concerned solely about the profitability of solar systems.