[Special Contents] Solar

19 May 2026

in Japanese

Global PV installations reached a record 452 GW in 2024, bringing cumulative capacity to 1,865 GW. The International Energy Agency is forecasting even faster expansion, with growth projected to reach 5,838–6,999 GW by 2030. However, contrary to these global trends, Japan's capacity is in decline. In fiscal year 2023, new capacity fell below 6 GW and cumulative installations are expected to remain at around 90 GW. The cost of solar power generation has dropped to below 10 yen per kWh, making it more cost-effective than thermal or nuclear power, although having previously been higher than global averages. Japan has the opportunity to greatly expand solar power by utilizing the vast potential of rooftops, buildings, and farmlands.

Highlights (Latest 5 Posts)

Column Global Solar Deployment Hit New Records in 2025 (19 May 2026)
Report Plug-in PV: How Germany Made Solar Accessible to All (25 March 2026)
Column Solar PV Strengthens Japan’s Energy Security and Economy (2 February 2026)
Report Perovskite Solar Cells to Expand Deployment Sites: Cost Reduction through New Installation Methods  (29 October 2025)
Column Plug-in Solar Systems: Global Expansion and the Status in Japan (31 July 2025)
 

Reports (latest)

  • Plug-in PV
    How Germany Made Solar Accessible to All

    25 March 2026
    This report presents Germany’s experience, where removing administrative and technical barriers enabled the rapid expansion of plug-in solar. It provides detailed analysis from the perspectives of policy design, market development, safety standards, and applications in multi-family housing. The report also highlights that the significance of plug-in solar extends beyond increasing solar power generation to its broader societal impact.
  • Perovskite Solar Cells to Expand Deployment Sites
    Cost Reduction through New Installation Methods

    29 October 2025
    This report presents demonstration projects for perovskite solar cells in various sites, outlines trends in technological development to overcome cost and durability challenges, and recommends measures for the government and local authorities to promote widespread adoption.
    *Full report in Japanese
  • Revitalizing Agriculture with Solar Sharing
    Agri-PV Contributing to Local Prosperity

    18 June 2025
    This report summarizes four key measures for revitalizing agriculture through solar sharing, based on on-site research of projects in Sosa City and 13 other locations, and identifies the major issues to solve for future expansion. Solar sharing not only promotes decarbonization with solar power but also plays a crucial role in reviving the shrinking agriculture. It serves as an effective means to achieve regional revitalization by leveraging renewable energy.
  • Progress in Diversifying the Global Solar PV Supply Chain
    18 December 2024
    This report analyzes progress in diversifying the global solar PV supply chain. It finds that efforts to expand crystalline silicon manufacturing in the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and India, as well as improvements in recycling and the emergence of perovskite – pioneered by Japan, make the solar PV supply chain more robust. 

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