A recent statistics from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Japan, reveals that 4.58 GW of solar photovoltaics were added in Japan in just the first eight months of fiscal year 2013.
The market is primarily driven by the government incentives, mainly a favorable feed-in-tariff scheme implemented in 2009.
The document titled, ‘Design of the Japanese Feed-in-tariff scheme’ expects the solar photovoltaic will contribute for an increase in the amount of electricity by 32 to 35 million kW.
Also, by promoting technological development and the use of heat from renewable energy as well as reviewing relevant regulations, METI aims to make the ratio of renewable energy in primary energy supply 10 percent by 2020.
Japan has been pursuing solar power for almost two decades. In fact in late 1990s, Japan was rated as one of the world leaders in solar. Later in 2002, Japan installed the Solar Ark made of 5,000 solar panels in Gifu Prefecture. It was considered one of the largest solar structures in the world.
The Fukushima nuclear disaster crystallized the existing interest in the country’s renewable focus. It is estimated that Japan will become the No.1 solar nation in the world in 2013.
In fact a recent report from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) said Japan is set to covet many European leaders like Germany and Italy this year.
In 2013, the solar photovoltaic market was mainly driven by Asian countries, especially China and Japan. Of the 37 GW of new capacity added in 2013, Japan contributed 6.9 GW. The entire Europe accounted for only 28 percent of the world’s solar PV market in 2013.