Japanese home solar power generation costs

In 2022, the average generation cost of residential photovoltaics in Japan amounted to 18 Japanese yen per kilowatt hour. The cost stayed at around the same level in recent years.

This report is the follow-up to the report published in 2019, “Solar Power Generation Costs in Japan: Current Status and Future Outlook” (the “2019 report”), and it analyzes the most recent trends in solar PV costs in Japan. In the same way with the 2019 report, the analysis is based on cost information obtained from solar PV power .

Japanese manufacturers have a 36% share. Looking at module unit costs by manufacturer, Chinese and Taiwanese modules have the lowest unit costs, with a median price of 42,000 yen/kW (Fig. 5). Unit costs for modules from Japanese manufacturers, however, are the highest, with a median price of 56,000 yen/kW.

The government encourages new detached houses to install solar panels, and subsidies greatly help reduce the costs of installing solar panels. Based on varies information, a solar panel price in Japan ranges from 200,000 to 400,000 yen per kilowatt (kW).

The cost of solar power generation (per kWh) is rapidly declining on a global scale. The generation cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) (utility-scale solar, global weighted average unit cost) has plunged 73% between 2010 and 2017 to 8.5 US cents/kWh (IRENA, 2019). According to the latest studies from other research organizations, the global

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6 FAQs about [Japanese home solar power generation costs]

How much does solar PV cost in Japan?

Particularly noteworthy is that in the efficient scenario the generation cost was 13.1 yen per kilowatt-hour (/kWh), approaching the average power exchange electricity price. Based on the above cost structure analysis and findings from existing research, we estimated the generation cost for solar PV in Japan in 2030 based on several scenarios.

Do people in Japan install solar power generation systems?

That being said, most people in Japan don’t install solar power generation systems in their homes. In 2021, around 91% of the surveyed said that they did not have a solar power generation system installed at home and only 7.8% said they considered it and installed it themselves.

What percentage of Japan's Energy is solar?

In 2022, solar energy accounted for 5.39% of Japan’s total energy mix and 9.91% of its electricity generation. In both cases, solar power in Japan holds the largest share of all renewable sources. This is a drastic contrast to even a decade ago when solar energy contributed less than 1% of the country’s energy.

Are solar panels subsidized in Japan?

Local subsidies for solar panels in Japan varies throughout municipalities. Here are some main subsidies in Tokyo and it’s greater area: Tokyo: Offers up to 950,000 yen for storage batteries under specific conditions, with an additional fixed subsidy of 100,000 yen for solar systems.

How has Japan benefited from a new solar energy facility?

The Japanese government has introduced several specialised programs to facilitate this growth. One of the key existing programs is the feed-in tariff, which guarantees the purchase of electricity from a new solar energy facility at a set price for a number of years.

Does Japan need solar energy?

This will need to dramatically increase for Japan to stay aligned with its renewable energy and decarbonisation goals. Solar energy in Japan is emerging as a cornerstone of Japan’s strategy to meet its ambitious long-term sustainability goals.

Japanese home solar power generation costs