Japan installs 1.82 GW of solar PV capacity

Boosted by commercial project installations.

The Japanese Agency for Natural Resources and Energy said Japan installed 1.82 GW of solar PV capacity in Q2. Commercial project installations came to 1.416 GW compared to 410 MW of residential solar PV, or a complete turnaround in the national PV focus.

From July 2012 to March 2013, residential PV installations outstripped commercial installations, adding 969 MW and 704 MW, respectively.

Overall since July 2012, Japan added 3.7 GW of newly installed renewable power capacity, of which 3.67 GW, or 90%, consisted of solar PV.

Before the introduction of the FIT program in July 2012 Japan installed 4.7 GW of residential PV projects and 900 MW of commercial PV projects.