Current status and future prospect of photovoltaic technologies in Japan

"New Sunshine Program", the first stage Japanese Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology Development Program, started in 1992 is going to complete in March 2001. A new PV technology development program will start from April 2001 as the second stage to develop significantly lower cost PV, expand the PV market more widely, contribute to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in Japan, create new employment and strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese PV industry. This paper reviews pre-evaluation result of PV technology development project in the New Sunshine Program, and the concept of new PV technology development strategy. As a result of continued strong support on technology and market development with mainly the government's subsidies, the Japanese PV industry has reached the top level of PV production in the world. Now, the Japanese PV industry is expected to take on self-development in the rooftop PV market within a few years. On the other hand, the Japanese Government is now seeking a new PV market promotion policy by changing the conventional scheme of giving subsidies to providing a market incentive mechanism such as a quota system or green charge system.