The PV market in Japan moved into the run-up period toward GW country in terms of annualintroduction capacity with the new support measures started in 2009. Newly installed capacity for the calendar year2010 reached 991 MW, almost double size from the figure of 2009 market (483 MW). This growth is based on twokey measures by the national government; Program for Subsidy for Measures to Support Introduction of ResidentialPV Systems that METI, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry re-started in January 2009 and Feed-in tariffprogram for surplus PV power started in November 2009. Further growth of the PV market in Japan is expected fromthe new policy and measures. The government will move toward drastic introduction of PV power generation byimplementing enhancement and relaxation of institutions and regulations, support measures, promotion of researchand development and reinforcement of electricity supply framework. Among them, new Feed-in Tariff programpassed the diet in 26th of August 2011 and the program will start in July of 2012. It is expected that the new FiTprogram would drive the growth of non-residential PVmarket. In addition, it is assumed that Japan’s PV market willbe diversified with the taking off of large scale PV plants planned by utilities which announced construction of 30large scale PV plants, 140 MW in total by 2020. Under such circumstances, it is expected that the Japanese PVmarket of 2011 will reach more than 1GW and further growth will be expected in 2012. This paper presents thecurrent status and future prospects of the PV market in Japan from the view point of policy & measures and thedevelopment of the PV market.
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