PV trends in Japan: New framework for introduction of PV system

It is expected that Japan\´s PV market will be revitalized again from 2009 as a new national target for PV capacity was set under the cabinet decision on "the action plan to create a low-carbon society" and new support framework for introduction of PV system will start. The action plan widely covers specific targets and measures regarding innovative technological development, dissemination of existing advanced technologies, and establishment of a framework to transform the entire nation into a low-carbon society and so on. As for PV power generation, the national target is increasing introduction volume of PV power generation by 10 times (to 14 GW) by 2020 and by 40 times (to 53 GW) by 2030 from the current levels. Corresponding to this target, the Ministry of Economy and Trade and Industry (METI) announced re-start the subsidy program for residential PV system. Four ministries, METI, MoE, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) announced "the Action plan to disseminate PV power generation" in order to jointly promote PV power. The PV industry in Japan will contribute to further introduction of PV power generation through reinforcing industry structure, enhancement of the production capacity and technological developments aiming at cost reduction. Moreover, electric utility companies decided to promote the construction of PV power plants including MW-level PV power plants. This paper reviews the entire picture of the new dissemination framework of PV system in Japan, in which, national and local governments, utilities, the PV industry, end-users and other related sectors are working on and the current status and future prospects of PV market in Japan.