Japan's solar module shipments reached 1. 28 GW in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, supported by strong residential demand and ongoing dominance by foreign manufacturers, with domestic production limited to just 5% of total output, according to the Japan Photovoltaic Energy. Japan's solar module shipments reached 1. The country was a major manufacturer and exporter of photovoltaics (PV), with a global market share of around 50% in the early 2000s. With an estimated 500,000 tons of decommissioned panels expected annually by the mid-to-late 2030s, driven by the end-of-life cycle for systems installed under the 2012 feed-in tariff program, the government is moving to establish a robust circular economy for its photovoltaic industry. This growth cements Japan's position as one of the world's leading solar nations, ranking third globally in total. Figure 1 Japan's total shipments of PV modules by fiscal year (FY) Figure 2 Japan's domestic shipments of PV modules by application by fiscal year (FY) Source: Materials from JPEA, compiled by RTS Corporation * Numbers listed in the figures above are rounded off to the first decimal place <Key. The Japan solar energy market, worth USD 6 billion, is propelled by feed-in tariffs, subsidies, and innovations in PV systems, targeting reduced emissions and energy security.
