Japan plans measures to boost solar cells

Japan said on Wednesday it aims to lift its global share in solar cell production to over one third from the current 25 percent by 2020, seeking to regain market share it has lost to foreign rivals.

Solar cell production, a promising alternative clean energy source, has been climbing worldwide and Japan has seen its share whittled down from the first half of the decade, when it produced about half of the world’s solar cells.
The steps are designed to expand the domestic solar cell market to 10 trillion yen ($100 billion) from 1 trillion yen and raise employment in the industry to about 110,000 from about 12,000 now.

Japan’s trade ministry will unveil plans that include government loans to procure silicon and a programme to reclaim silicon from discarded solar cells, a ministry official said.

Reuters