Residential solar panels are taking priority in Japan's solar strategy. The first of two key factors driving this pathway is a scarcity of land in this densely populated country. Government policy has shifted to encourage the installation of residential solar systems that combine rooftop panels and storage cells allowing the residence to become more self-sufficient. In addition, tariffs paid to major solar projects will be reduced dramatically in a bid to pass on savings to consumers, dropping the incentive to develop solar 'farms'.
The Fukushima disaster had a marked effect on Japan's energy strategy with a sharp refocus on solar. This has placed it second in the world behind China and at times solar system manufacturers have been unable to keep up with demand. By 2020 the balance of commercial and residential solar power output is expected to be evenly split as mass adoption takes place.
Read more in the Bloomberg article here..