Solar PV Industry in China Should Learn from Japan's Experience

After more than 30 years of development, the Japanese solar photovoltaic industry has made remarkable achievements. As of 2009, the cumulative installed capacity of Japan's solar PV reached 2,633 MW, which is mainly used for residential, school and public facilities. At present, Japan's solar photovoltaic power generation accounts for about half of the global solar photovoltaic power generation.

Compared with Japan, China's solar photovoltaic industry is still at a preliminary stage and has not yet achieved a large-scale installation. China's photovoltaic industry can learn from Japan's experience? Shen Hongwen, researcher of China Investment Advisor New Energy Industry, believes that there are mainly the following points:

First of all, the government strongly supports the photovoltaic industry and successively issues related policies. Since the 1970s, Japan has made the development of solar energy a part of its future energy strategy. Since then, it has continuously introduced support policies. Looking at the concept of the Japanese government's policy, the implementation of high subsidies to promote the photovoltaic company's enthusiasm for research and development and production, shows that the country's attitude to encourage new energy. At the same time, the use of grid-connected power generation systems is solved to solve the worries of enterprises. Afterwards, it was tilted toward the civil system to increase the installed capacity. According to the current situation in China, high subsidies may have the opposite effect from the beginning, but the idea of ​​the Japanese government's photovoltaic policy is worth learning from.

Second, the company persists in combining the economic and social benefits of photovoltaic power generation. In Japan's development of the photovoltaic industry, many companies accounted for less than 10% of their revenue from solar business. However, as companies are aware of the prospects of the photovoltaic industry, they are still investing heavily in photovoltaic research and development. Today, Japanese PV companies have made great strides. According to the "China Solar Photovoltaic Power Industry Investment Analysis and Prospect Forecast Report 2010-2015" published by China Investment Advisor, Japan Sharp Corporation has occupied the top position of global enterprise solar battery production for the seventh consecutive year from 2000 to 2006, in addition, Japan's photovoltaic companies Sharp, Kyoto ceramics and other technology research and development in the world.

Once again, the Japanese people have a strong sense of conservation and environmental protection. Japanese nationals have been educated in energy saving and environmental protection since childhood. They strongly support the country’s environmental protection policies and respond positively to the national call. This has greatly promoted the increase in the penetration rate of solar photovoltaic systems.

Zhang Yanlin, research director of China Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. pointed out that Japan's experience in the development of the photovoltaic industry is worth mentioning. It is to focus on cultivating talents. The development of an industry cannot be separated from a high-quality team. The Japanese government has achieved good results in investing in solar energy professionals, not only promoting the development of the photovoltaic industry, but also reducing employment pressure.