The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released the information on approved PV project business plans under the FIT program* as of March 31, 2022. The cumulative total of approved PV projects remained flat with a total of 444,355 projects with a total capacity of 63,582 MW. Among these, a total of 824 projects with a total capacity of 182,433 kW were approved in March 2022, as shown below.
- 20 kW – < 50 kW: 290 projects, 13,591 kW
- 50 kW – < 500kW: 483 projects, 107,541kW
- 500 kW – < 1 MW: 24 projects, 16,640kW
- 1 MW – < 2 MW: 27 projects, 44,661 kW
- ≥ 2 MW: 0 projects, 0 kW
By electric company service area, the Tokyo Electric (TEPCO) area had the largest number with 236 projects totaling 72,567 kW, followed by the Chubu Electric area with 264 projects totaling 62,872 kW, with the top two areas accounting for 74% of the total.
By prefecture, Mie Prefecture accounted for the largest capacity with 97 projects totaling 28,048 kW, followed by Gunma Prefecture with 52 projects totaling 19,405 kW, and Shizuoka Prefecture with 93 projects totaling 18,991 kW, making up 36% of the total.
Looking at individual approved projects with a capacity of 1 MW or more, JAG Energy (three projects, one each in Gifu, Osaka, and Mie Prefectures) ranked first with respective output capacities of 1,999.9 kW. All of these projects were winning bids in the 9th tender for PV projects.
*RTS Corporation analyzed data downloaded on June 27, 2022 at 9:05 AM. Information includes power generation facilities with an output capacity of ≥ 20 kW, newly approved and/or completed the process of shifting to the new scheme as of March 31, 2022 (as for prior/post notification of changes, information is as of February 28, 2022, and for applications for new/changed approval, paper-based applications are covered this time.)