When it was written, from time to time we take you back to one of our past reports to present the state of an industry as it was viewed. This time, we look at the solar industry.
Until 2004 the largest solar PV market in the world, Japan is the third largest market for the second year running, with 2,633 MW of capability in 2009. Solar PV has been the primary thrust of the Japanese federal government’s renewables program, whereas in Europe a more broad brush approach has been adjusted, with wind power at the leading edge. In 2009, Japan produced 15% of the world’s solar cells and it leads a world leader on thin movie innovation along with the United States, with Kaneka, Matsushita Battery, Sanyo, Sharp and Showa Shell Sekiyu all contributing.
In June 2009, Sanyo Electric said it would spend $82 million to include 90 MW of production capacity by 2010, while Sharp had actually indicated it will open a brand-new plant in 2010 with a 1 GW capacity for thin film cells.
The market has actually been provided an increase in June 2009 with the Japanese federal government reintroducing subsidies for the capital cost of setting up domestic rooftop solar panels. New develop houses with installed PV capacity are becoming more typical place and electrical home appliance and home stores have actually started selling PV modules for existing buildings.
Commercial buildings have actually likewise begun to set up photovoltaic panels on a larger, broader scale for self-generation.
