History

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 100 GW 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 150 GW 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 150
GW 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)

Major events concerning PV power generation

History of RTS Corporation

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