Current Status of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Generation in Japan (2010)

Total Solar PV Capacity, by Country

While the global market for solar panels expands at a remarkable pace, installation of new solar PV has been stagnant in the Japanese market, due to the impact of such factors as the end of residential solar subsidies. Japan was the global solar PV leader until it relinquished that seat around 2004, after which the installation growth rate began to decline. Solar subsidies were reestablished in January 2009, however, and the Feed-in Tariff system, although limited only to excess power generated using solar PV, was introduced in November 2009. Shipments of solar panels are currently showing a rapid recovery.

Installed solar PV capacities and policies promoting installation, by country, are as follows:

2009 Installed Solar PV Capacity and Policies Affecting Solar PV Generation Systems, by Country

	Country	New Capacity 2009（ＭＷ）	Total Installed Capacity（ＭＷ）	Policies, etc.
1	Germany	3,800	9,140	Feed-in Tariff (total capacity)
2	Italy	710	1,168	Feed-in Tariff (total capacity)
3	Japan	485	2,629	Feed-in Tariff, Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Law (applies only to surplus power)
4	U.S.	470	1,639	State and Municipal RPS, Feed-in Tariff
5	Czech Republic	411		Feed-in Tariff (total capacity)
	Spain	70	3,424	Feed-in Tariff, required installation on some buildings, etc.