Japan launches subsidies for lithium-ion battery storage

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Japan has launched a subsidy programme to support the installation of lithium-ion battery-based stationary storage systems, offering to pay individuals and entities up to two-thirds of their purchase price.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced the opening of the application process for subsidies on Monday and said a budget of ¥10 billion (US$98.3 million) had been earmarked for the programme.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Subsidy payouts will be capped at ¥1 million (US$9,846)  for individuals and at ¥100 million (US$982,000) for businesses, available for the installation of battery systems of 1kWh capacity or more. Systems must also be assessed and receive technical accreditation through the country’s Sustainable Open Innovation Inititative

The ministry outlined the reasons for launching the scheme, reiterating Japan’s acute energy problems since the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear accident, the anniversary of which was marked last week.

There is a multitude of possible applications for stationary storage. According to METI, like many other nations and regions, Japan is interested in looking at how the integration of renewable energy sources can be aided by using storage, managing peak supply and demand and stabilising power supply.

The Japanese government, through METI, is keen to measure what effect mass production will have on battery prices and to what extent battery storage could aid energy self-sufficiency.

Japan joins Germany in offering direct subsidies for energy storage systems. Germany now offers subsidies for residential PV-plus-storage systems, although according to industry figures uptake on the programme has been limited.

Growth in the embryonic battery storage industry has been stimulated by differing drivers in different regions, with some regions such as California and Puerto Rico using mandates to compel utilities or renewable energy project developers to deploy storage.

Energy storage with batteries for PV is covered extensively in ‘Put up or shut up time for storage’, in the latest volume of Solar Business Focus, available now.

Read Next

October 13, 2025
France’s Engie and the UAE’s Masdar have been chosen to jointly develop a 1.5GW PV power plant near Abu Dhabi.
Premium
October 13, 2025
Brett Beattie of Castillo Engineering looks at some of the key land grading work that can make multimillion-dollar differences to projects.
October 13, 2025
Korean chemical production firm OCI Holdings has acquired a 65% stake in a Vietnamese solar wafer production plant, intending to export solar wafers to the US.
October 13, 2025
The world is on pace to exceed 3TW of cumulative solar installations by the end of the year, according to a report from DNV.
October 13, 2025
The Trump administration has cancelled the 6.2GW Esmeralda 7 solar project in Nevada – once touted as one of the largest in the world.
October 13, 2025
Two Chinese state-owned energy enterprises have signed cooperation agreements on PV and wind power projects with Saudi companies, with the total contract value exceeding RMB30 billion (US$4.2 billion). 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK