Chapter 21
Opportunities for Renewable Energy
Introduction Through Feed-in Tariff (FIT)
Scheme
Weisheng Zhou, Xuepeng Qian, and Ken’ichi Nakagami
Abstract In order to realize the East Asian low-carbon community, significant
uptake of renewable energy is essential. However, uncertainties remain around
how to promote the introduction of renewable energy. The fixed price purchase
system (feed-in tariff, FIT) is a policy that stipulates the purchase price of electricity
from renewable energy sources in order to promote the spread of renewable energy.
Globally, it is the most widely used policy to promote renewable energy. In Japan,
the FIT system was approved by the National Diet on August 26, 2011, and officially
implemented from July 1, 2012. Under the FIT, the introduction of renewable
energy, especially solar power, has progressed at an unprecedented speed. However,
the unification problem (overreliance on a single power source) and mismatches in
supply and demand, which are biased toward photovoltaic power generation, have
become apparent. This chapter examines the genealogy of renewable energy introduction under the FIT system and quantitatively analyzes the regional characteristics
of Japan, the endowment of natural resources, policy issues, and the global pioneer
of the FIT system. These findings can contribute to future policy development
through learning from the experiences of Germany.
21.1 Introduction of Renewable Energy in Japan
21.1.1 Single Renewable Energy Power Source
Significant introduction of renewable energy is indispensable for realizing the East
Asian low-carbon community. However, how to promote the introduction of renewable energy is a big issue. Feed-in tariff (FIT) is the most widely used policy to
W. Zhou (*) · K. Nakagami
College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
e-mail: zhou@sps.ritsumei.ac.jp; nakagami@sps.ritsumei.ac.jp
X. Qian
College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Oita, Japan
e-mail: qianxp@apu.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
W. Zhou et al. (eds.), East Asian Low-Carbon Community,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4339-9_21
389
Opportunities for Renewable Energy
Introduction Through Feed-in Tariff (FIT)
Scheme
Weisheng Zhou, Xuepeng Qian, and Ken’ichi Nakagami
Abstract In order to realize the East Asian low-carbon community, significant
uptake of renewable energy is essential. However, uncertainties remain around
how to promote the introduction of renewable energy. The fixed price purchase
system (feed-in tariff, FIT) is a policy that stipulates the purchase price of electricity
from renewable energy sources in order to promote the spread of renewable energy.
Globally, it is the most widely used policy to promote renewable energy. In Japan,
the FIT system was approved by the National Diet on August 26, 2011, and officially
implemented from July 1, 2012. Under the FIT, the introduction of renewable
energy, especially solar power, has progressed at an unprecedented speed. However,
the unification problem (overreliance on a single power source) and mismatches in
supply and demand, which are biased toward photovoltaic power generation, have
become apparent. This chapter examines the genealogy of renewable energy introduction under the FIT system and quantitatively analyzes the regional characteristics
of Japan, the endowment of natural resources, policy issues, and the global pioneer
of the FIT system. These findings can contribute to future policy development
through learning from the experiences of Germany.
21.1 Introduction of Renewable Energy in Japan
21.1.1 Single Renewable Energy Power Source
Significant introduction of renewable energy is indispensable for realizing the East
Asian low-carbon community. However, how to promote the introduction of renewable energy is a big issue. Feed-in tariff (FIT) is the most widely used policy to
W. Zhou (*) · K. Nakagami
College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
e-mail: zhou@sps.ritsumei.ac.jp; nakagami@sps.ritsumei.ac.jp
X. Qian
College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Oita, Japan
e-mail: qianxp@apu.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
W. Zhou et al. (eds.), East Asian Low-Carbon Community,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4339-9_21
389