PUBLICATIONS & REPORTS
PUBLICATIONS & REPORTS
From Kitakyushu to the world: AGI, a research institute that studies Asia's economy and society
Extreme Temperatures and Health Impacts: Lights and Shadows of the Diffusion of Renewable Energy
| Author | KO Yi-Chun |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Asian Growth Research Institute |
| Date of Publication | 2026.3 |
| No. | 2025-07 |
| Download | 731KB |
Contents Introduction
Rising extreme temperatures and increasing energy costs pose growing public health risks by constraining households’ ability to maintain safe indoor environments. This study examines whether residential solar photovoltaics (PV) can mitigate these risks by reducing households’ dependence on grid electricity. Using prefecture-by-month mortality and morbidity data from Japan for 2009–2014, a period marked by a sharp increase in electricity prices following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, we find that residential solar PV adoption significantly reduces temperature-related mortality and morbidity, particularly among individuals aged 65 and older. These findings highlight the role of renewable energy in strengthening climate resilience and underscore the importance of policies that expand access to solar PV to protect vulnerable populations. However, because adoption remains concentrated among higher-income households, associated health benefits may accrue unevenly, highlighting the need for targeted policies.