World Heritage registration is in great danger! The landscape around Mt. Aso is drastically changing “Countless solar panels covering the earth” Shocking photo
Renewable energy is, of course, important, but ...... In the midst of the World Heritage Site designation, the Ministry of the Environment and the prefectural governor are concerned, and local residents cannot hide their unease.
The landscape around Mt. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, which has one of the world’s largest calderas, has undergone drastic and controversial changes. Satoru Fukutomi, who runs a pension in Takamori-cho, Aso County, cannot hide his concern.
The top of the mountain has been blackened by solar panels, and the natural beauty of Aso has been transformed into a strange landscape in places. The ground in this area contains volcanic ash and is prone to collapse, and the ’16 Kumamoto earthquake turned the surface of the mountains brown here and there. If we continue to allow overdevelopment, it will make the area more prone to landslides. ……”
Many areas of Aso are currently covered by large-scale solar power generation facilities (mega solar power plants). The largest area is about 25 times the size of the Tokyo Dome, and is lined with some 200,000 giant panels.
When the government’s feed-in tariff program for renewable energy began in 2012, plans for the installation of solar power plants began to emerge one after another. About 10 mega solar power plants have been built in the vicinity of Aso Kujyu National Park,” said a local newspaper reporter.
Certainly, the creation of renewable energy is important. The potential sites for mega solar power plants are idle areas such as pasture land that is no longer in use. Leasing such land to businesses has its advantages, as it brings in rent to the landowner and eliminates the hassle of mowing the grass.
On the other hand, Aso is a region with high annual rainfall, nearly double the national average. As Mr. Fukutomi mentioned above is concerned, the installation of mega solar power plants will increase the risk of landslides.
The governor of Kumamoto Prefecture has expressed concern because of the significant changes it will bring to the landscape. An official from Kumamoto Prefecture’s Cultural Planning and World Heritage Promotion Division said.
Aso is aiming to be registered as a World Cultural Heritage site, so we have asked the operators not to install mega solar power plants in areas where they can be seen from observation points and other locations.
The Ministry of the Environment is also reviewing the scope of the national park in the direction of expanding its scope. A person in charge at the Aso Kujyu National Park Management Office of the Ministry of the Environment said, “We have asked that mega solar power plants not be installed in areas bordering the national park area.
The purpose is to curb new installation of mega-solar power plants, as several have been built in the area bordering the national park area. We will finalize the details of the plan by the end of next fiscal year, when we finish coordinating with the landowners.
What does Japan Renewable Energy, one of the operators of the mega solar power plant in Aso, think?
Japan Renewable Energy, one of the companies that will install the mega-solar power plant in Aso, is trying to harmonize with the environment by creating a forest belt around the power plant to isolate it from the surrounding area. We believe that coexistence with the local community and compliance with related laws and regulations are the most important prerequisites for promoting our business, and we are proceeding with our business with the understanding of our customers.
Numerous giant solar panels cover the land of Aso. If not properly installed, they could destroy the landscape and cause a large-scale natural disaster.
From the July 7, 2023 issue of FRIDAY
Reporting and writing： Masayoshi Katayama (Journalist)
