Japanese solar cell sales jump 72%

Sales of solar cells in Japan hit 445 megawatts from April to June following a 72% rise year-on-year.

Industry sources said the huge improvement was due to a jump in demand for non-residential power generation ahead of the launch of a new renewable power subsidy scheme.

This July, Japan introduced a comprehensive Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program under which regional power utilities buy power from renewable energy suppliers at fixed premiums for up to 20 years. The emphasis on renewables is aimed at helping Japan wean itself from nuclear power following last year’s Fukushima disaster. The program could unlock billions of dollars in clean-energy investment.

The launch of FIT has increased the number of companies that generate solar power that is then re-sold to regional utilities. Sales to such companies surged to 29.8 MW from the April to June or four times higher than a year earlier.