nuclear-news

Solar feed-in tariff law in Japan will stimulate business

new business opportunities within industries that offer products and services related to the generation of electricity using renewable energy sources, ranging from solar panels and wind turbines to equipment and systems for smart grids.

Feed-in tariff law a boon to renewable energy markets , asahi.com2 Sept 11, Japan’s new clean energy bill offers a tantalizing business bonanza and companies are scrambling to find an edge.The so-called feed-in tariff on renewable energy passed by the Diet on Aug. 26 requires utilities to purchase wind, solar and geothermal energy from households and businesses at above-market rates

The legislation, which will take effect in July 2012, has ignited expectations of new business opportunities within industries that offer products and services related to the generation of electricity using renewable energy sources, ranging from solar panels and wind turbines to equipment and systems for smart grids.

In a news conference following Diet passage of the feed-in tariff law, Mikio Katayama, chairman of the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association, said the legislation will prove to be a major boon to the solar power industry.

“The new law creates a system that guarantees the purchase of renewable power for 20 years,” said Katayama, who is also president of Sharp Corp. “The solar power market will grow to five to 10 times its current size over the short term, creating many new jobs in the process.”….

Smart grids will be vital to efforts to expand the use of renewable energy sources, which by nature do not offer a constant supply of electricity. Smart grids use a variety of technologies, including sensors, meters and digital networks to monitor and control the two-way flow of power across operations. A smart grid can ensure a stable power supply and efficient power consumption by using equipment like storage batteries…..Hitachi has announced it will take part in a joint overseas smart grid project involving Japanese and U.S. companies….

asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：Feed-in tariff law a boon to renewable energy markets – English

September 2, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, renewable