Japan is a prominent feature on the industrial map of the world. The nation has witnessed immense growth in the past few decades. This economic upsurge has been a result of voluminous industrial activity in all corners of the nation. Consequently, the energy consumption has also been pretty huge. The adverse effects of fossil fuel combustion need no introduction. Considering the rapidly deteriorating health of the environment, aggravated by the similarly placed count of remaining natural resources, the need to look towards green energy forms such as solar energy becomes all the more important. Thankfully, the gravity of the energy crisis that stares mankind in the face has been sensed by the policy makers in Japan, as evident from the efforts aimed at making solar energy based devices within the reach of people apart from making industries endorse the same.

Electricity forms the raw material for most industries, and the photovoltaic panels provide for a green alternative to the conventional electricity production methods. The past decade has been marked with several significant improvements in the design and structure of solar panels which convert solar energy into useful electricity. This continues to be the occupation of most research activity taking place in Japan as designing of efficient solar panels would have lasting effects on the energy situation of the near future. New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) is a group dedicated towards this cause, and has worked in collaboration with electronic giants like Sharp Corporation and Daido Metal Co in order to be able to make available solar panels exhibit efficiencies that make these devices a better choice over the conventional fuels. The Japanese government is also in persistent activity aimed at expanding the solar electricity network. The result has been the inclusion of distant islands and remote rural areas in the elite class of solar energy users.

The single most important factor upon which the future of the energy situation in Japan hinges is the manner in which the state handles the costs associated with the installation of soar energy based panels. The cost of these installations remains considerably high, and this accounts for the disinclination of industrial units to make the switch to green energy. As a result, the hopes of a cleaner environment remain stuck on paper, and do not translate onto reality. However, it is logical to expect better returns once the consumers are convinced of the cost effectiveness of solar energy. This is the basic essence of the research and development activity in Japan, and shall continue to be so for the coming years. The sincerity with which the government and science societies are pursuing the cause is evident in the rapid leaps that the solar cell industry is making in the country. Japan can take pride in the fact that it accounts for nearly 50% of the world’s solar cell produce. The route that Japan has chosen to reach the destination of clean energy forms features solar energy in a heavy dose.

•