Sunday, May 6, 2012

Japan Solar, Wind, & Geothermal Feed-in Tariffs Coming Soon (Potential Rates Unveiled)

Japan’s about to become the next major economy to implement a solar feed-in tariff, and from the looks of it, it’s going to be a generous one. (I can see a herd of solar companies migrating over to Japan now.) Wind and geothermal feed-in tariffs are also on their way to implementation.

Japan’s Solar Feed-in Tariff to Be Big


For solar, Reuters is quoting 42 yen (or about $0.52, €0.39, or £0.32) over the course of 20 years. That’s “roughly twice what is currently paid in Europe,” Craig Morris of Renewables International notes before asking: “Will Japan be the next boom and bust market?” (Note: it’s still less than the $0.55 Ontario is planning to pay.)

Japan has been a solar power leader before, but sitting on its previously large capacity of low-carbon nuclear, it held its horses as Europe steamed ahead with strong feed-in tariff programs. For anyone critical of such feed-in tariffs (i.e. the folks who stop by our site from time to time to try to spread the lie that it’s a failure), take notice of Japan’s decision now to follow suit after careful consideration and observation. It’s clear that it wants to boost solar on its citizens’ rooftops, and wind and geothermal power as well, at a blistering pace, and it knows that a feed-in tariff is a great way to do so (and also a great way to bring renewable energy costs down).

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