Solar will be biggest beneficiary of Japan's new clean energy policy

Bloomberg New Energy Finance research: new Japan feed-in-tariff scheme offers attractive returns for solar and wind projects, setting the stage for renewables to become an important source of electricity

Tokyo, London and New York, 26 March, 2012 – The development of wind and solar projects in Japan will generate highly attractive returns under the feed-in-tariffs recently proposed by the Japanese government, according to clean energy market research provider Bloomberg Energy Finance. This is despite much higher costs for solar in Japan than elsewhere in the world.


Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster a year ago Japan has been grappling with the need to diversify its energy mix. One of the policy measures adopted by the government, a renewable feed-in tariff (FiT) programme, starts July 2012 and has the potential to accelerate renewable electricity generation across the country. If the Japanese government implements the rates it is now proposing, they will rank among the world's most attractive support mechanisms for renewables.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that under the proposed tariffs solar and wind projects could achieve equity returns as high as 44% and 51%, respectively. This will lead to a surge in project proposals, particularly for the solar PV industry. Depending on how projects are treated by Japan's traditionally conservative planning regime, Japan could see a cumulative 20GW of wind and solar capacity by 2014. This would require total investments of up to $37.5bn over the next three years, assuming costs stay near current levels.

In the longer term, renewable costs will decline, enabling accelerating renewable deployment across the country despite aggressive reductions in the very generous initial tariffs on offer.

Yugo Nakamura, head of Japan research at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said: "The government faces the challenge of picking the best rate for stimulating renewable energy investment while not over-paying for clean power. With the very high rates which have been proposed there is a very real risk that Japan will experience the same boom-bust cycles we've seen in other countries."

The latest research note from the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Tokyo team examines the real costs of generation from clean technologies in Japan and compares them with those for fossil generation – key analysis as Japan contemplates its post-Fukushima energy future. Bloomberg New Energy Finance also finds that clean energy costs today in Japan today are substantially higher than elsewhere in the world due to a relative lack of competition, but will likely fall as competition heats up.

Because of the attractive returns offered to investors from the new FiT, Bloomberg New Energy Finance foresees strong growth for Japan's renewable market, specifically for solar PV. The firm projects over 10GW of new solar and 0.7GW of new wind installed by 2014, requiring investments of $12.5bn/yr over the next three years. New solar project development will take off immediately while new wind capacity will ramp up from 2015 onwards due to longer lead times in developing those projects. Japan could become the third largest solar market in the world by 2014.

Milo Sjardin, head of Asia at Bloomberg New Energy Finance commented: "The feed-in-tariff scheme has the potential to significantly alter Japan's energy future. The country may build enough distributed solar capacity over the next three years to equal the electricity output from almost three nuclear power stations, and do so in a fraction of the development time. To enable further renewable deployment beyond that, the country will likely have to liberalise its power sector."

To read your Press Release, either open the attachment on this email, or access online via the Bloomberg New Energy Finance website by clicking below -
http://www.bnef.com/Download/pressreleases/202/pdffile/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sendPressReleases


ABOUT BLOOMBERG NEW ENERGY FINANCE

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) is the world's leading independent provider of news, data, research and analysis to decision makers in clean energy, water, and carbon markets, as well as carbon capture and storage and nuclear power. Bloomberg New Energy Finance has staff of 200, based in London, Washington D.C., New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Beijing, New Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Cape Town, São Paulo and Zurich.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance serves leading investors, corporates and governments around the world. Its Insight Services provide deep market analysis on wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal, carbon capture and storage, smart grid, energy efficiency, and nuclear power. The group also offers Insight Services for each of the major emerging carbon markets: European, Global Kyoto, Australia, and the U.S., where it covers the planned regional markets as well as potential federal initiatives and the voluntary carbon market. Bloomberg New Energy Finance's Industry Intelligence Service provides access to the world's most reliable and comprehensive database of investors and investments in clean energy and carbon. The News and Briefing Service is the leading global news service focusing on clean energy investment. The group also undertakes applied research on behalf of clients and runs senior level networking events.

New Energy Finance Limited was acquired by Bloomberg L.P. in December 2009, and its services and products are now owned and distributed by Bloomberg Finance L.P., except that Bloomberg L.P. and its subsidiaries (BLP) distribute these products in Argentina, Bermuda, China, India, Japan, and Korea. For more information on Bloomberg New Energy Finance: www.bnef.com.

ABOUT BLOOMBERG

Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company's strength—delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately—is at the core of the Bloomberg Professional service, which provides real time financial information to more than 300,000 subscribers globally. Bloomberg's enterprise solutions build on the company's core strength, leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively. Through Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Government and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the company provides data, news and analytics to decision makers in industries beyond finance. And Bloomberg News, delivered through the Bloomberg Professional service, television, radio, mobile, the Internet and two magazines, Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg Markets, covers the world with more than 2,300 news and multimedia professionals at 146 bureaus in 72 countries. Headquartered in New York, Bloomberg employs more than 13,000 people in 185 locations around the world.

Featured Product

QuickBOLT - Expand Your Services

QuickBOLT - Expand Your Services

Explore new lines of income for your solar installation business with QuickBOLT's Stone Coated Steel roof mounts designed in partnership with metal roof manufacturers themselves. These SCS roof mounts work on all metal tile profiles and will help you bring in money you're missing out on. By not driving into the roofing material, QuickBOLT's Stone Coated Steel roof hooks maintain the integrity of the roof. Install with ease and confidence knowing your roof is protected against the harsh elements that these hooks are designed for.