In common with every other PV market in the world as it matures, attaining grid parity for the technology is the ultimate goal for Japan. As an electricity market in general, meeting electrical supply with demand will of course become ever-more important.
Japan's government has given its clearest indication to date of planned rule changes around renewable energy policy, including official confirmation that a tender process is being put before its parliament for the 2017 financial year.
Major PV metallization paste producer Heraeus Photovoltaics has launched a new family of low-temperature Ag-pastes at the PV Expo show being held in Tokyo.
Japan's PV industry is changing fast. The feed-in tariff has brought about over 30GW of installed capacity, with large-scale solar outnumbering residential by about 10 to one. Ahead of this week's PV Expo in Tokyo, Andy Colthorpe takes a look at some of the issues expected to dominate.
Solar power company Canadian Solar announced that it has agreed to a financial agreement in which Goldman Sachs Japan will establish a US$26 million project finance bond for the 10.2MW Aomori-Misawa solar power plant in Rokunohe-cho, Kamikita-gun, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.