Japan sets solar FiTs for 2020-2021

The rates for systems below 10kW is set to 19 cents/kWh.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has released provisional solar PV feed-in tariffs (FiTs) for the next financial year (April 2020-March 2021). The feed-in tariff rate for solar PV systems below 10 kW is set at JPY21/kWh (US$19c/kWh). For PV projects between 10 kW and 50 kW, the tariff is fixed at JPY13/kWh (US$12c/kWh) and for projects between 50 kW and 250 kW at JPY12/kWh (US$11c/kWh). FiTs for large scale PV projects (>250 kW) have been shifted to a tendering program initiated by the METI.

Feed-in tariffs started in 2013 at more than JPY40/kWh. Despite the decline in solar feed-in tariffs, rooftop and distributed solar installations are following a rising trend, along with residential energy storage.

In the government’s latest Energy White Paper, approved in July 2019, renewables are recognised as a major energy source for Japan’s future. The plan aims to raise the share of renewables in the power mix to 22- 24% (including hydropower) in 2030, with the objective to make renewables Japan’s main power source by 2050.

This article was originally published by Enerdata.