Check out Japan's solar market profile

A combination of factors makes Japan a profitable choice for solar energy investments.

The Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) says the Fukushima nuclear disaster of March 11, 2011 forced Japan to limit the use of nuclear energy and to develop renewable energy. A renewable energy law went into effect in July 2012.

The law provides for a feed-in-tariff (FIT) of US$0.52/kWh for solar energy, a generous rate that has helped in rapid market growth.

Much of this growth has come in solar rooftop installations. Some 80% of Japan's solar PV systems are rooftop systems. JPEA said that to increase installations, Japan will focus on non-rooftop installation development in the future.

Last April, accumulated solar PV installations in Japan came to 4GW. This figure is expected to reach 34GW in 2020 and 100GW in 2030.