Japan

Energy strategies in Japan

Since 1999 Japan has been number one in the PV sector; no other country promotes PV more than Japan.

In Japan RES, apart from hydro power and geothermal energy, are called "new energy sources" and are not yet in widespread use, accounting for only just > 1 % of primary energy supply.
Ethanol production from sugar cane is thought to be the most promising source of renewable energy.
However sugar cane cultivation is limited to the south islands because of the climatic conditions, and production is small.

Forest residues are also of high national interest.

In the future RES are considered very promising.
Aim of the Government to provide 3% of total primary energy supply with RES by 2010, mainly with wind power generation, waste power generation and biomass power generation.

Plans for 2030 target generating PV electricity at a cost per kWh corresponding to electricty cost from nuclear and fossil fuel power stations.
Simulations indicate that if 10% of all homes built annually were fitted with a 5 kWp PV system, a total installed capacity of 65 GW could be reached by 2025.

PV systems installed to date: 84% are domestic rooftop applications and 12% are industrial applications.

Japanese PV export is increasing and companies have successfully taken the step to mass production. East Asian countries account for approx. 40% of market share of PV production in Japan.

Renewable Energy Business in Japan: Source Guides

Japan Renewable Energy Market Report: Globe-Net

Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies: ISEP