Tokyo: Many developing countries suffer from an energy shortage.
India suffers from a peak power shortage of between eight to nine percent, which results in several hours of power cuts per day.
Countries like India can follow what Japan has done.
It recently introduced Feed-in-Tariff policy, making the country one of the world`s fastest-growing users of solar energy.
Across Japan, technology firms and private investors are installing solar panels and selling electricity for 42 Yen or less than a dollar per 1 kw/h to electric power companies.
Feed-in-Tariff grant policy has attracted new business investments such as ORIX, a global finance company.
"We operate large scale solar PV energy generation business by renting our customers, roofs of their factories, shopping malls and office buildings," said Yuichi Nishigori, Executive Officer, Head of Investment and Operation, ORIX Corporation.
ORIX has installed solar panels using 1600 sq meter of roof space at Coca-Cola bottling factory (WHERE) and produces 1.5 MW of solar power.
It is enough to take care of the energy needs of some 400 households for a year.
The company is aiming to expand its `roof rental` solar PV business.
ORIX produced 140 MW Solar Power in 2012.
It is now planning to tap the Asian market.
"Japan has advanced technology in the renewable energy field. ORIX also is in the business of helping reducing our customer`s energy consumptions at their facilities. We are expecting increasing energy demands in Asia. We think there is a huge market in this field, and we are looking forward to connecting with local entrepreneur in the Asian region," Nishigori added.
In countries like Japan availability of space is a major concern, and this has led to the popularity of Small and Middle Solar Photovoltaic cells.
These can be fitted on apartment rooftops of houses and business facilities.
Companies like OMRON Corporation provide Solar Power Conditioners for a safe and secure power supply.
"Power conditioners are necessary for solar power generation. Solar PV panels generate direct current electricity, and it needs to convert to an alternating current in order to connect with the electrical grid. The power conditioner functions as an inverter, and it is required to have functions that ensure safety. When troubles occur, it needs to shut down the whole electrical grid immediately, but while the Solar PV panel keeps generating, it still makes energy that causes fire, damages for engineer workers by electric leakage. This is called "Islanding," said Katsumi Ohashi, Manager, Environmental Solutions Business Headquarters, OMRON Corporation.
Since the introduction of the Feed-in-Tariff in 2011 in Japan, the demand for Solar PV has risen for industrial and business purposes.
Countries like India can follow this model to beat the energy crisis.
ANI
