The Japanese Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) has reported 1.00 GW of domestic shipments of solar cells and PV modules in the nation in October through December 2012, including 341 MW of imports.

At 34% this is a slightly higher level of imports than the previous quarter, and reveals the ongoing opening of the Japanese market to foreign manufacturers. Overall demand represents a 247% growth over the prior year and a 59% growth over the previous quarter.

In the third quarter, exports also shrank to 9.9% of total shipments at 111 MW, a 27% fall from the previous quarter.

Booming utility-scale PV, more thin film

The statistics from Japan's third quarter of fiscal year 2012, which ended on December 31^st, 2012 also show changing market characteristics, including a booming utility-scale sector and increased thin-film usage.

In the quarter, the nation's “non-residential” market was larger than its residential market for the first time, at 526 MW, compared to 476 MW of residential demand. This includes 216 MW of utility-scale PV projects.

Thin film shipments also increased to 275 MW, more than double the previous quarter. In the past, the large majority of thin film shipments have been into Japan's residential market, this quarter is also the first quarter that Japanese thin film giant Solar Frontier KK (Tokyo, Japan) has reported a positive operating result.

Thin-film makes up 20% of shipments

Over the previous nine months, Japanese domestic demand has increased to 2.08 GW, 33% of which have been imports. The nation has exported another 432 MW of PV. Of total shipments, thin-film has represented 503 MW, or 20%.

2013-02-28 | Courtesy: JPEA; Image: Kyocera | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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