Participatory Renewable Energy Zoning Using QGIS and Open Data: A Case Study in Urahoro, Hokkaido

Presentation at FOSS4G Hiroshima 2026, Japan on September 3, 2026.

Transcript

1. September 3, 2026｜ FOSS4G Hiroshima 2026, Japan Participatory Renewable Energy Zoning Using QGIS and Open Data: A Case Study in Urahoro, Hokkaido Shota Furuya, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies
2. Table of contents 1. Renewable Energy Zoning 2. Renewable Energy Zoning Process in Urahoro Town, Hokkaido 3. Visualizing places that are important to residents and the local community 4. Summary Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The presenter discloses a potential conflict of interest. The presenter's affiliated organization holds a minority stake in Urahoro Energy, a local energy company proposing a solar power project within an ”Promotion area" identified through the zoning process. The presenter guarantees that the methodologies and analytical results of this study are objective and independent of the commercial interests of the aforementioned company. Funding Source: This study is based on a renewable energy zoning project commissioned by the Town of Urahoro to the presenter's affiliated organization. The funding for this zoning project consists of the Town of Urahoro's municipal budget (25%) and a subsidy from the Ministry of the Environment ("Subsidy for Projects to Inhibit Carbon Dioxide Emissions, etc.: Project to Support the Formulation of Plans for Maximum Introduction of Renewable Energy Toward Achieving Regional Decarbonization," Project No. 4, 75%). 1
3. 1. Renewable Energy Zoning To appropriately guide the site selection for renewable energy projects, we overlay and organize resource potential, regulations, and environmental and social data on a map. Source: Handbook for Establishing Promotion Zones and Other Initiatives for Regional Decarbonization 2
4. 2. Renewable Energy Zoning Process in Urahoro Town, Hokkaido Urahoro Town (Tokachi Region) • Population: 4,000 • Land area: 729.85k㎡ • Industry: Agriculture, dairy farming, forestry and fisheries • Community • Urahoro Style: Collaborative youth empowerment movement • Ainu cultural preservation efforts • Thriving young generation • Town council: 55% are under the age of 50 (Youngest: 28) • Kombukariishi Lookout Young people move back to or relocate to Urahoro © OpenStreetMap contributors 3
5. 2. Renewable Energy Zoning Process in Urahoro Town, Hokkaido • 2023 "Zero Carbon City Declaration" under the mayor's leadership • Achieve zero carbon by 2050 -> Aiming for 100% renewable energy • 2024 Developing the Local Climate Action Plan • Participant comments from the community learning session and workshop on June 5 • "It would be great if the community could become energy independent, but... is it possible? How do we do it? What are the specific actions?" • "Fields, mountains, and the ocean are places where food is produced, so I feel a bit uneasy about renewable energy development there." • "I understand it with my head, but my body and feelings can't keep up." • "Solar power generation suddenly increased, and I had a negative feeling about the one on the Urahoro High School grounds." • 2025 Ministry of Environment, Renewable Energy Promotion Area Zoning Project • Zoning was conducted by a planning team consisting of the Urahoro Town Planning and Policy Division, the Town Museum, and ISEP • Expert meetings, stakeholder interviews, seminars and workshops for town residents, and a participatory survey on important places in town 4
6. 2. Renewable Energy Zoning Process in Urahoro Town, Hokkaido Urahoro Town has created zoning maps based on the following three area classifications. Conservation Area: Area where the introduction of renewable energy is restricted Adjustment Area: Areas where renewable energy installation can be considered while taking various constraints into account Promotion Area: An area where the proactive introduction of renewable energy can be considered under specific conditions 5
7. 2. Renewable Energy Zoning Process in Urahoro Town, Hokkaido The process was exactly learning by doing... • Maps created using QGIS • Started with almost zero GIS experience • Learned step-by-step with AI support (spatial operations, field calculations, etc.) • Began without even knowing how to set the CRS (Coordinate Reference System) • Built foundational skills quickly through persistent questions to ChatGPT and reference to QGIS LAB articles • Most layer maps use open data from MLIT's National Land Numerical Information download site 6
8. Renewable Energy Potential in Urahoro Twon Solar (Building) Solar (Land) Wind Source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, GSI Maps
9. 2. Renewable Energy Zoning Process in Urahoro Town, Hokkaido Layers • Protection Forests • Avian Sensitivity Map for Wind Power (Alert Level A3, B) • Wildlife Protection Areas • Avian Sensitivity Map for Wind Power (Flight Site Rank 1) • Buried Cultural Property Sites • Designated Erosion Control Areas and Erosion Control Dams • Town-Designated Cultural Properties • Sediment Disaster Alert Areas • Designated Areas with Underground Waste • Sediment Disaster Special Alert Areas (Steep Slope, Debris • Endangered Species • Existing Vegetation Map 2024 • KBA (Key Biodiversity Area) • IBA (Important Bird Area) • Giant and Monumental Trees • Area within 30m/200m of Rivers Flow, Landslide Prevention Areas) • Steep Slope Collapse Hazard Areas • Private Forest Subject to Regional Forest Plan • Coastal Conservation Areas • Fishing Port Areas • Maximum Slope Angle 20/30 Degree or Above 8
10. Vegetation naturalness cannot conserve areas important for the town's biodiversity → The museum curator selected conservation/adjustment from 43 vegetation communities Vegetation naturalness Conservation Adjustment Source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, GSI Maps
11. Solar (Land) Promotion Area • In Urahoro Town, wildlife causes crop and livestock damage. Particularly at town-owned pastures, the risk of Yezo sika deer spreading pathogens to cattle had become a serious concern. Also, There is growing concern about the effects of summer heat on the health of cattle. • To address this, the town proposes using vertical solar panels as deer fences and agrivoltaics as sunshades for cattle. • Siting in this area allows only for vertical solar and agrivoltaics (not typical ground-mounted solar). Promotion Area © OpenStreetMap10 contributors
12. Image of Solar Project in Promotion Area Agrivoltaics Vertical Photovoltaics Photo: Nihonmatsu Community Energy Corporation (Fukushima Prefecture) Photo: Nihonmatsu Agri-Solar Inc. (Fukushima Prefecture) 11
13. Zoning Maps Solar (Building) Solar (Land) Conservation Area Adjustment Area Wind Promotion Area Source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, GSI Maps 12
14. Deployment potential of solar (building and land) and wind after zoning Solar (Building) Solar (Land) Wind Total installation Capacity：64MW Capacity：3,037MW Capacity：2,510MW potential Generation：86,693MWh/y Generation：4,017,151MWh/y Generation：5,495,693MWh/y − − Capacity：1,364MW Capacity：1.5MW Generation：1,804,670MWh/y Generation：3,325MWh/y Remaining potential after excluding conservation areas Capacity：34MW Generation：46,708MWh/y Remaining potential in the adjustment area after excluding − the conservation area Promotion Area Potential (Reference Value*) − Capacity：16MW Generation：21,727MWh/y − Percentage relative to the town's annual electricity demand 138% Adjustment area：5,353% Promotion area：64.4% 9.9% (33,714 MWh/year) * These figures are estimates based on surface area and differ from the capacity and electricity generation assumed for vertical PV and agrivoltaic systems in the promotion area. Therefore, the potential within the promotion area is for reference only. 13
15. 3. Visualizing places that are important to residents and the local community Participatory Survey • By visualizing places that people value in advance, it is possible to encourage considerations for siting. • A web app vibe-coded using Bolt.new • Each person can post up to 5 locations, important reasons, and photos Right-click or tap and hold to register a location • For people who struggle with digital technology, the museum assisted them through individual interviews 14
16. Participatory Survey on Important Places • Research Method: Online map posts • Survey Period: September‒December 2025 • Number of participants: 37 • Total number of locations: 112 (104 Public/8 Private) Category Case % Key Features Natural landscape 55 52.9% Majestic coastline, observation decks, and grasslands Cultural heritage 29 27.9% Historical buildings and Ainu culture Geographic information 21 20.2% Topography, geology, and water resources Recreation 18 17.3% Going for a drive, taking a walk, and taking photos Plants and flowers 17 16.3% Seasonal flowers and rare plants Wildlife 14 13.5% Rare wild birds, wetland creatures Environmental issues 10 9.6% Solar panels and landscape conservation Other 29 27.9% Hot Springs, Former Sites, and Other Facilities Survey results are provided as sub-maps for businesses to review when choosing locations. 出典：© OpenStreetMap contributors 15
17. East of Ofutanbe Chasi This is the "Year One in the North" movie location east of Otahunbe Chasi. I remember being surprised when Sayuri Yoshinaga visited the Daiei extras on that beach. Usually quiet, walking along the coast and stream toward Chokubetsu reveals rare plants and edible wild greens. The surrounding roads were also used for the movie "Hanamizuki." I also fondly recall my regret upon learning later that the actor had been at Atsunai Community Center. The dike on the Tokachi River It's fun to ride a bicycle here. Urahoro Coal Mine Site Because it is a place that preserves the history of the town's former industry (mining) On both sides of Route 38 in Yoshino Solar panels have already been installed in some areas, which was very shocking to me. It was a landscape praised by my children and guests visiting from Honshu, who would say it was such a pleasant road to drive on. I am not asking for existing structures to be torn down, but I hope they do not add any more. Toyokita Wildflower Garden The flowers here are alpine plants on Honshu, making alpine flowers by the seaside a rare sight. Cottongrass at the garden entrance is subtle, but tourists visit Kiritappu Wetland just to see it. With better promotion, Urahoro could also become a tourist spot. The woods opposite the sea protect the fields from sea breezes and dryness. I hope this wonderful natural scenery is preserved for the future.
18. 4. Summary • Conducted renewable energy zoning by combining QGIS and open data • Became able to use GIS constantly asking AI despite having almost zero experience • Leveraged local knowledge and technology to create approaches for conservation, adjustment, and promotion that reflect the local context • Leveraged the museum curatorʼs expertise to conserve locally important vegetation communities • Utilized vertical/agrivoltaic technology to resolve issues in town-owned ranches • Expected to reduce siting risks for renewable energy facilities by visualizing key local areas • Leveraging qualitative social context that quantitative map data cannot capture • The next challenge is to enable municipal staff to manage and update the data themselves. • Transferred know-how to local staff and the curator in Urahoro, enabling in-house management that was not possible with conventional zoning 17