Japan announces preliminary FiT rates

Finally taking positive steps to distance itself from the Fukishima disaster, the sixth Purchase Price Calculation Committee tasked with deciding the new feed-in tariff, has finally laid the foundations at a press conference earlier this week. The new rates will be effective from July 2012.

Tariffs for solar PV power generation have been set at ¥40 per kWh at 20 years and excluding tax for systems up to 10kW. For larger systems, the rate is ¥42 per kWh, as expected, but for 10 years and includes a tax as well as an FiT for any surplus energy generated.

Professor Kauhiro Ueda, chairperson of the committee, stated that he does not believe any further amendments will be made to these figures. Detailed conditions are yet to be disclosed, however, once the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry panel have finalized prices, METI minister Yukio Edano will make a final decision at the end of May.