Agrivoltaics is a promising endeavor that contributes to sustainable agriculture and energy supply. However, due to its unique nature, it comes with specific risks. Learning from past failures and patterns of administrative guidance, and implementing appropriate countermeasures from the project planning stage, is key to success.Chapter 3: Learning from Failures to Achieve Success – Pitfalls and Practical Advice3-1. Risks of Improper Use Leading to Administrative Guidance and Removal OrdersReports from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) clearly indicate a rise in cases where agrivoltaics projects are deemed to lack "actual farming activity." Such improper use has led to increased administrative guidance and even suspensions of FIT/FIP certifications.Increase in Administrative Guidance Cases: In fiscal year 2023, there were 342 administrative guidance cases nationwide (including FIT/FIP suspensions), highlighting the strengthened monitoring against improper use of agrivoltaics. Source: ANRE "FY2023 FIT/FIP Monitoring Report," MAFF "Guidance Enhancement for Proper Operation of Agrivoltaics" (both April 2024).Specific Patterns Leading to Projects Being Deemed "Solely Solar Power Businesses": Virtually Zero Farming Activity: No crops planted (only weeds), or no evidence of plowing, sowing, or harvesting. Significant Deviation from Farming Plan: Actual cultivation or management drastically differs from the farming plan submitted in the permit application. For instance, claiming vegetable cultivation but leaving the land untended, or growing plants generally not considered agricultural crops (e.g., sakaki, shikimi, lawns, or slow-growing timber like cedar saplings). Lack of Crop Management Records: Failure to submit records of fertilizer/pesticide use, cultivation logs, or evidence of neglected crop diseases or pests. Alteration of Farmland Topography: Laying crushed stone or mortar for weed control that impairs drainage, or structures leading to topsoil erosion from rainwater runoff, indicating improper maintenance of agricultural land. Violation of Reporting Obligations: Failure to submit annual reports (cultivation status, yield results) or on-site photos. Also, submitting false reports, such as reusing the same photos from previous years. Unauthorized Subleasing to Third Parties: If the permitted farmer is not actually conducting agricultural activities and has subleased the land to a third party without authorization, it can be deemed "nominal leasing" and a violation of the Agricultural Land Act.Gap Between On-Site Perception and Interpretation: Due to factors like farmer shortages and increasing abandoned farmland, local agricultural committees sometimes show a degree of leniency, preferring managed land over abandoned plots. However, when national audits or subsidy checks occur, the emphasis shifts to formal compliance and clear evidence of farming activity, regardless of intent.Minimum Management to Avoid Improper Use: Cultivation Management: Consistently carry out plowing, sowing, and harvesting annually, maintaining detailed records. Regularly manage weeds. Evidence Retention: Maintain and organize farming logs, dated photos of activities, shipment slips, and sales records, submitting them at least once a year to the Agricultural Committee. Contracts with local agricultural cooperatives (JA) or distributors in the cultivator's name are also highly effective proof of farming activity. Crop Selection: Choose crops recognized as "agricultural products" even if yields are initially low (e.g., soybeans, buckwheat, forage crops). Consider compatibility with local crops to gain community acceptance. Plan Amendments: If you cultivate a different crop than initially planned or make minor changes to the plan, always consult with the Agricultural Committee beforehand and submit a minor change notification if necessary. Unauthorized changes risk being deemed improper use.3-2. Importance of Consensus Building with Local Residents and Agricultural StakeholdersAgrivoltaics projects can affect local landscapes and existing agricultural activities. Therefore, building strong relationships and achieving consensus with local residents and agricultural stakeholders are essential for project success.Learning from the Omaezaki City Case in Shizuoka Prefecture: Risks and Avoidance of Public Opposition: A proposed agrivoltaics project on tea fields in Omaezaki faced strong opposition from local residents concerned about landscape aesthetics and potential harm to the renowned local tea industry. This case demonstrates how a lack of sufficient prior communication and consensus-building can create significant barriers.Holding Information Sessions, Disclosing Information, and Clearly Demonstrating Local Economic/Social Contributions: Successful projects consistently conduct thorough information sessions and individual visits from early stages, sincerely addressing local concerns. Additionally, schemes that return part of the electricity revenue to the community, create employment for elderly farmers, or contribute to restoring abandoned farmland, clearly demonstrating concrete benefits to the region, help foster consensus.3-3. Practical Advice for SuccessCommon threads among successful agrivoltaics projects show that they don't merely aim for power generation profits. Instead, they strive to build "co-creation models" that work in harmony with their communities.Strong Collaboration with Farmers: It's paramount for power generators and farmers to respect each other and forge a robust partnership that maximizes mutual benefits. Ideally, the power generator and farmer are the same entity, or there's a clear contract outlining roles, responsibilities, and collaborative structures.Collaboration with Experts: Early engagement with specialists—such as administrative scriveners proficient in agricultural land conversion permits, agricultural consultants with deep farming expertise, or EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) companies with a track record in agrivoltaics design and installation—enhances plan accuracy and streamlines procedures.Meticulous Business Planning: Beyond mere financial projections, a meticulous plan is required for the agricultural operations beneath the panels, ensuring its feasibility, practicality, and long-term sustainability.Risk Management: Robust structural design against natural disasters (typhoons, heavy rainfall, earthquakes, snow accumulation) and appropriate insurance coverage are crucial. Proactively understanding and mitigating risks related to power grid issues, such as output curtailment or construction delays, is also vital.Sustainable Farming System: To ensure long-term stability of the overall project, it's essential to implement long-term soil management, select crops that can consistently yield under panel conditions, and maintain a system that supports continuous farming activities.Common Factors from Successful Cases: Addressing Local Challenges: Projects are designed to resolve specific local issues like abandoned farmland, aging farming populations, and lack of successors. Early Community Engagement: Thorough briefings, local investment opportunities, and revenue-sharing schemes help the community feel ownership of the project. Feasible Farming Practices: Involvement of experienced agricultural professionals who reliably maintain cultivation, keep farming logs, and record shipment data. Visibility to Society: Designing facilities to be "open to the community" through site visits, farming experiences, and educational partnerships (e.g., "Aguri Shimanto Solar Sharing" in Shimanto Town, Kochi Prefecture; "Aso Agri-Power Co-existence Solar Sharing Demonstration" in Minami Aso Village, Kumamoto Prefecture; "Agrivoltaics Demonstration Project" in Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture).Conclusion: Outlook for Agrivoltaics Beyond 2025Having experienced the 2024 amendment to the Agricultural Land Act, agrivoltaics in Japan has entered a new phase. While stricter regulations might temporarily raise the barrier to entry for new projects, they also serve to eliminate improper operators and promote the overall healthy development of the market.Going forward, the focus will extend beyond mere electricity sales, with increasing attention from an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment perspective. The multifaceted value of agrivoltaics—contributing to regional revitalization, food security, and disaster resilience—is poised for re-evaluation.We hope this guide will be a valuable resource for you in successfully developing sustainable agrivoltaics projects that contribute to local communities.Appendix/ReferencesMAFF Related Information MAFF "Overview of Agricultural Land System and Procedure Flow" https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/keityo/nougyoukeizai/attach/pdf/index-47.pdf (Accessed June 18, 2025) MAFF "Guidelines on Agrivoltaics Facilities (2nd Edition)" (March 2021) MAFF "Proper Operation of Agrivoltaics and Case Studies of Administrative Guidance" (2024 Edition) MAFF "Review of Agricultural Land System (Agricultural Land Act, etc.)" (March 2024)METI / ANRE Related Information ANRE "Guide to Grid Connection for Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities" (FY2024 Edition) https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/ (Accessed June 18, 2025) ANRE "FY2023 FIT/FIP Monitoring Report" (April 2024)Publicly Available Materials from Regional Power Companies (Transmission and Distribution Divisions) Kyushu Electric Power, Tokyo Electric Power, Hokkaido Electric Power, etc. (Accessed June 18, 2025)Reports/News Articles on Individual Cases Kochi Shimbun (September 2023) NHK "Special Feature on Renewable Energy in Minami Aso" (July 2022) JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency) "Iitate Village Renewable Energy Demonstration Report" (2023) National Association of Agricultural Committees "Agricultural Land Conversion Application and Standard Review Periods" (2023 Material) Chiba Prefecture "Guidelines for Procedures related to Agrivoltaics" (FY2023 Edition)Checklist: Items to Confirm for Application Preparation (※ It is recommended to list specific items separately when publishing the guide.)