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Major events concerning PV power generation

History of RTS Corporation

1839 – 1983
1839
French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel discovered the “photovoltaic effect”, the basic principle of the solar cell.
1954
Bell Laboratories, USA invented a p-n junction crystalline silicon solar cell.
1973
Due to the first oil crisis, expectations for new and renewable energy, as an energy source other than oil for energy conversion increased.
1974
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) (current National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, (AIST)) started the “New Sunshine Project (R&D project on new and renewable energy technologies)”.
1978
Due to the second oil crisis, a sense of crisis over stable energy supply and the necessity to respond to environmental issues increased once again.
1980
The New Energy Development Organization (current New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)) was established as a pioneer of new and renewable energy development triggered by the two oil crises in the 1970s.
1954
Osamu Ikki, founder of RTS Corporation, was born, concurrently with the invention of solar cell.
1980
Witnessing the oil crises and the following development of alternative energy in Japan, Osamu Ikki considered of silicon as an “energy resource” instead of an “electronics material,” and focused on the future potential of PV power generation
1981
Osamu Ikki appealed to NEDO the importance of silicon feedstock and that by manufacturing solar cells, PV will become one of the mainstream energy sources.
June 1982
Consigned by NEDO, Osamu Ikki took charge of the secretariat of the “Experts Committee on the investigation of silicon feedstock” of the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (current Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA)).
March 1983
Osamu Ikki established RTS Corporation
1991
With the enactment of the Electricity Supply Act, the world’s first Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program was implemented in Germany.
The monthly reports, “Taiyoko Hatsuden Joho (monthly report in Japanese analyzing the latest PV trends)” “Silicon Doko” (current Silicon Taiyo Denchi Joho, monthly report in Japanese analyzing the latest trends of silicon-PV related issues) were first published.
1992
“The program to purchase surplus PV electricity” was started by electric companies.
1993
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology started “the New Sunshine Project,” an initiative to promote comprehensive development of environmental
technologies
1994
The “Basic Guidelines for New Energy Introduction” was formulated.
The “Residential PV system monitoring program” was started (1997 – 2005, The Residential PV System Dissemination Program)
1995
Monthly English report “PV Activities in Japan” (current “PV Activities in Japan and Global PV Highlights”) was first published.
1997
“Act on the Promotion of New Energy Usage” was implemented.
COP 3 was held and the Kyoto Protocol was adopted.
2002
Survey report, “Taiyoko Hatsuden Market (PV Market)” (in Japanese) was first published.
2003
The Japanese government made a cabinet approval on the First Strategic Energy Plan.
Survey report, “Survey of PV system companies” (current “Profiles of global companies engaging in PV, in Japanese) was first published.
2004
NEDO formulated the “PV 2030,” Japan’s PV roadmap toward 2030.
English survey report, “PV Market in Japan” was first published.
RTS Corporation was consigned by NEDO to take the role of the secretariat for the formulation “PV 2030”.
2007
Osamu Ikki received the “PVSEC Special Award” at PVSEC-17.
2009
The “Subsidy program to support the introduction of residential PV systems (until 2014)” and the “Program to purchase surplus PV electricity at the price twice as much as the retail price” (November 1, 2009 – July 1, 2012) were started.
NEDO formulated the “PV2030+” roadmap for Japan.
RTS Corporation was consigned by NEDO to take the role of the secretariat for the formulation “PV 2030+”.
2010
The global PV market rapidly grew to 17 GW annually, exceeding 10 GW for the first time.
A book titled “PV business to overcome the era of mega-competition – Things that you must know” was published by THE NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN (in Japanese, authors: Osamu Ikki and RTS experts).
2012
The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy was started.
The global cumulative PV installed capacity reached 100 GW at the end of 2012.
2013
RTS Corporation celebrated its 30th anniversary (moved to its current location).

Survey report “Forecasting PV Installed Capacity in Japan toward 2020” (current “Forecasting PV Installed Capacity in Japan toward FY 2030/2050”) was first published.

Survey report “Global PV Market Report” (in Japanese) was first published.
Survey report “Analysis and forecast of the residential PV market in Japan” (current “The current status and outlook of the residential PV market in Japan” was first published.
2014
RTS Corporation took charge of the secretariat of the IEA PVPS Task Experts Meetings and the IEA PVPS Workshop at WCPEC-6 held in Kyoto, Japan where PV experts gathered from around the world.
2015
COP 21 was held and the Paris Agreement was adopted.
Monthly report, “The Frontline of the PV power generation
business” (in Japanese) was first published.
2016
Survey report “The PV Business Guide” was first published.
(previously “The Current Status and Outlook of Public and Industrial PV Systems in Japan,” which was first published in 2008)
2017
Masaaki Yamamichi, Senior Consultant, RTS Corporation received IEC1906 Award from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
November
Izumi Kaizuka, Principal Analyst, RTS Corporation received
PVSEC Special Award in PVSEC-27.
2018
The Japanese government made a cabinet approval on the Fifth Strategic Energy Plan and the Fifth Basic Environment Plan, in which “making renewable energy a mainstream power source” is clearly stated.
December
The global PV market reached over 100GW annually, and the cumulative PV installed capacity exceeded 500 GW at the end of 2018.
“The Proposal for the development of the PV industry (PV 150), ‘PV power generation’ as pioneer of the great energy transition era – toward 150GW PV installations in Japan by 2030” was published.
2019
The Japanese government made a cabinet approval on the “Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement as Growth Strategy.”
The proposal “PV 150 Action Plan – action plan to realize 150GW PV installations in Japan by 2030” was published.
April
The third edition of “Database of MW-Scale PV Projects”, a database of large-scale PV systems in Japan, was published.
2020
The Paris Agreement, the global framework of measures against global warming moved into the implementation phase in 2020, and the global society aims to realize a decarbonized society
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declarated “2050 Carbon Neutrality”
March
The proposal “Recommendation for the enhancement of PV deployment capabilities beyond the realization of 150 GW installations in Japan by 2030
Development of PV power generation in the 2020s toward the PV society ~ aiming to become a leading nation in renewable energy (PV150 deployment capabilities)” was published
2021
“Sixth Strategic Energy Plan” was approved at cabinet meeting. Renewable energy will be the main power source for the realization of “carbon neutral by 2050” and “46% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030”
June
Osamu Ikki received “the Distinguished contributor Award” from the Optoelectronics Industry and Technology Development Association (OITDA)
2022
March
Cumulative PV installed capacity, which have been promoted by the former FIT Law, reached 60,536 MW at the end of March, 2022.
April
The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy started in July 2012 came to an end. With the implementation of the Acts for Establishing Resilient and Sustainable Electricity Supply Systems, a new FIT/FIP progams have started, and the environment for renewable energy has moved to a new stage toward self-support
March
Survey report “Forecasting PV Installed Capacity in Japan toward 2030 (2022 Edition) ” (in Japanese) was published.
June
Survey report “Forecasting PV Installed Capacity in Japan toward 2030 (2022 edition)” (English version) was published
Survey report “Key Point II of Renewable Energy Policy ~Taking advantage of changes in the environment for the spread of PV power generation” (in Japanese) was published
August
Comprehensive research report on the PV system market “Photovoltaic Power Generation Market 2022 – Market Review, Business Model, and Future Outlook” (in Japanese was published
November
Survey report “Global PV Market Report 2022” (in Japanese) was published
2023
February
Cabinet approved the “Basic Policy for GX Implementation” in an evolved form, combining the “Sixth Strategic Energy Plan,” “Green Growth Strategy,” and “Global Warming Countermeasures Plan,” and taking into account the promotion of GX investment and the global situation
April
“Energy Resilience Act” and “Revised Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming; Law Concerning the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming ” come into force
May
“GX Promotion Act” and “GX Decarbonized Power Supply Act” are enacted
Updae cumulative PV installations Target to 1TW by 2030 at G7 Hiroshima Summit
March
40th anniversary of the RTS Corporation”s founding
Survey report “The PV Business Guide 2023” (in Japanese) was published
May
Report on “The important points of renewable energy 2023” (in Japanese) was published
September
Comprehensive research report on the PV system market “Photovoltaic Power Generation Market 2024 – Market Review, Business Model, and Future Outlook” (in Japanese) was published
Oct
Survey report “Forecasting PV Installed Capacity in Japan (2023~2035)” (in Japanese) was published
December
Survey report “Global PV Market Report 2023” (in Japanese) was published
2024
February
The world’s first sovereign climate transition bonds “Climate Transition Bonds” were issued
February
Survey report “Forecasting PV Installed Capacity in Japan (2023~2035)” (in English) was published
Survey report “The PV Business Guide 2024” (in Japanese) was published
April
Survey report “Simulation of Output Curtailment of PV Power Generation in Japan toward 2050 (7th Edition)” (in Japanese) was published
May
Report on “The important points of renewable energy 2024” (in Japanese) was published
August
Survey report “Simulation of Output Curtailment of PV Power Generation in Japan toward 2050 (7th Edition)” (in English) was published
Sept
Comprehensive research report on the PV system market “Photovoltaic Power Generation Market 2023 – Market Review, Business Model, and Future Outlook” (in Japanese was published
2025
February
The Cabinet decesions were made on the “Seventh Strategic Energy Plan”,setting a target for solar power to account for 23–29% of the energy mix by 2040, along with the “GX 2040 Vision” and the “Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures”
February
Report on “Battery Storage Business Guide 2025″(in Japanese) was published

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