Japan Solar Update: No.190 (Mar 2 ~ 6, 2026)
The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has decided to discontinue new certifications for 10 kW or more ground-mounted solar power generation projects under the FIT and FIP systems after fiscal year (FY) 2027. It plans to reorganize project categories, prioritizing support for solar installations compatible with local communities, such as rooftop systems, and will formulate the details of this prioritized support going forward.
<Key points>
-
- The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) presented a policy to exclude 10 kW or larger ground-mounted PV systems from eligibility for support under the FIT/FIP programs from 2027 onward, citing continued cost reductions regardless of project scale
- For FY 2026, assumed values for the purchase price and related terms for 50 kW or larger ground-mounted PV systems are newly set
- With regard to the initial investment support scheme for residential PV systems, the stepwise pricing structure will be maintained, with the application of a shortened support period set to begin in FY 2029 as a basic approach
Treatment of commercial ground-mounted PV systems from FY 2027 onward
Based on the latest cost data, costs have been declining regardless of project scale, indicating that conditions for self-sustainability are approaching
Accordingly, commercial ground-mounted PV systems will be excluded from eligibility for support under the FIT/FIP programs from 2027 onward
On the other hand, it is important to promote the deployment of PV systems in harmony with local communities, such as rooftop PV installations
- The types and classifications of PV systems in harmony with local communities will be examined in detail from a cross-power source perspective at future council meetings
- Specific approaches to support, including the targets for prioritized support, will be examined and decided by the Procurement Price Calculation Committee in the next fiscal year or FY 2026, starting in April 2026
Price Calculation Committee in the next fiscal year or FY 2026, starting in April 2026 Members expressed opinions on the continuation of support for Agri PV that ensures harmony with local communities. The secretariat stated that it intends to further deepen its examination of support for Agri PV while working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Purchase prices/ standard prices for commercial ground-mounted PV systems (10kW=<250kW)
in FY 2026 and FY 2027
| Project Type | Ground-Mounted Project | Rooftop Project | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Size | 10kW=<50kW | 50kW=<250kW | 10kW=< | ||||
| Fiscal Year |
2025 |
2026 |
2025 |
2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
| FIT Purchasing Price | 10 Yen/kWh | 9.9 Yen/kWh | 8.9 Yen/kWh | 9.6 Yen/kWh | 11.5 Yen/kWh |
19 Yen/kWh (year 1~5)
8.3 Yen/Kwh (year 6~20) |
|
| FIP Purchasing Price | |||||||
| Purchasing Period | 20 years | ||||||
- In principle, for systems of 10 kW or more and less than 50 kW, the regional utilization requirement for self-consumption projects shall apply
- In FY2026 and FY2027, projects of 50 kW or more shall, in principle, be eligible only for the FIP scheme, and shall not be eligible for the FIT scheme
- The FIT purchase price / FIP price for roof-top installations (10 kW or more) in FY2026 also apply during the second half of FY2025
Purchase prices for Ground-Mounted PV projects (Over 250 kW) in FY 2026
(Unit: Yen/kWh)
| FY 2026 | 28th Bidding | 29th Bidding | 30th Bidding | 31st Bidding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.6 Yen/kWh | ||||
Treatment of the initial investment support scheme for residential PV systems from FY 2027 onward
As a basic approach, the stepwise pricing structure will be maintained, with the application of a shortened support period set to begin in FY 2029
Purchase prices for residential PV projects (under 10 kW) in FY 2026 and FY 2027
(Unit: Yen/kWh)
| System size | FY 2024 | First Half FY 2025 |
Second Half FY 2025 2026 |
2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIT Purchasing Price | 16 | 15 | 24 (year 1~4) 8.3 (year 5~10) | |
| FIT Purchasing Period | 10 years | |||
Exchange rate: 1 Yen = $ 0.00639 as of March 2, 2026
Examination of the establishment of new power generation facility categories
Perovskite solar cells
- Discussions will continue on initiating support at a benchmark point when power generation costs fall below the level of electricity prices
- The status of progress toward mass production and cost reductions, as well as the implementation of deployment support through budgetary measures, will continue to be monitored
Figure 1： Treatment and related matters concerning commercial ground-mounted PV systems from FY 2027 onward
Source: Materials of the 110th and 114th meeting of the Procurement Price Calculation Committee (January 7, 2026 & Feb 2, 2026), compiled by RTS Corporation