The photovoltaic industry is now leading the world in terms of both cost and new installations, and infrastructure and business models based on PV power plants are becoming more widespread and developed in countries around the world. While the development of large-scale PV plants continues, the installation of residential PV systems and storage systems is also accelerating in Europe, the US, and Australia.
Unfortunately, due to the stagnation of the Japanese market, it seems that these global trends are not being accurately conveyed within Japan.

When talking about PV facilities, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is probably “solar panels (PV modules).” Solar panel manufacturers exist all over the world, but at present, the market is becoming increasingly dominated by specialized manufacturers in China.

Reference: The top 10 specialized manufacturers are expected to ship approximately 500GW in 2024, of which the top four will ship approximately 300GW. The market size in Japan is 5 to 6GW per year.

There used to be many manufacturers that were subsidiary to major global companies, but many of them have withdrawn from the market due to competition from specialized solar panel manufacturers. On the other hand, specialized manufacturers are not well known among the general public, and although the quality of solar panels is generally high, their capabilities are not fully recognized. Therefore, we feel that it is very difficult for the general public to determine “which manufacturer’s panels are good.”
Similarly, PV system construction companies also go through periods of ups and downs. It is virtually impossible to correctly decide which panel manufacturer to choose and which PV system construction company to hire unless you have specialized knowledge.

Currently, local governments in Japan, including Tokyo, have introduced subsidy systems to encourage the installation of residential PV system.

In this column, we will introduce a simple way to make inquiries for those who want to install residential PV system in their homes.

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When installing a residential PV system for your home, you need objective information and unbiased advice, but accessing such information is not easy.

(Example 1) Selling PV system (telephone, door-to-door sales, etc.).・In most cases, interactions with salespeople often revolve around information based on the other person’s subjective opinions and sales intent.

(Example 2) Search the internet.・Companies that have implemented SEO measures to rank highly in internet searches will be found. When multiple specialized sites come up with different information, such as A being OK and A being NG, it becomes difficult for the general public to judge whether the information is correct or not.

(Example 3) Ask PV system companies or people you know who have worked on installing PV systems.・This is an effective method, but it is difficult to compare companies that the people have not taken and it is difficult to compare with other options.
Also, we believe that there are only a very few experts in the PV industry (less than 20% of the entire industry) who are able to keep up with the differences of each manufacturer and each construction company.

Considering this situation, it seems that it is not easy to choose a reliable company when installing PV systems. We considered whether there is a system for collecting information and making inquiries that anyone can consult with at any time without being influenced by whether they have acquaintances or the prosperity or decline of a particular company.

1. Prerequisites:(A) Select a manufacturer that currently sells “residential PV systems” in Japan.(B) Choose a construction company that is currently working on residential PV systems in Japan

2. Choices for each condition:(A) Manufacturers currently selling residential PV systems in Japan:(a) Japanese companies: Panasonic, Sharp, Kyocera, Choshu Industries, Kaneka Solar Marketing, etc.(b) Foreign companies: Hanwha (Q Cells), Canadian Solar, Suntech Power, etc.(B) Search for construction companies currently constructing residential PV systems in Japan:(c) When searching the Internet, the amount of information available is overwhelming, including information on construction companies, sales companies, trading companies, comparison sites, and PV-related equipment manufacturers, including panel manufacturers, making it extremely difficult for the general public to judge the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

3. Choices (manufacturer/construction company):
Currently, many Japanese manufacturers use OEM products from major specialized panel manufacturers, and while there is little difference in panel quality between manufacturers, the reality is that there are large differences between companies in terms of construction quality and construction prices.

(Differences between choosing a manufacturer and a construction company)

• Choice: Panel manufacturer (easy) <<<<< Construction company (difficult)
• Quality: Panel manufacturers (almost the same, high quality) <<<<< Construction companies (varies greatly)
• Price: Panel manufacturers (Japanese and foreign) << Construction companies (varies widely)

Given this current situation, I think the best thing for the general public to do would be to contact well-known panel manufacturers directly through their inquiry forms on their official websites.

Reason 1. By contacting the manufacturer, you will be contacted by a construction company that officially handles the manufacturer’s products. => You can save the trouble of searching for a construction company.
Reason 2. By contacting the manufacturer, you will be introduced to a reliable construction company with sufficient construction experience using the manufacturer’s products. => Generally, companies with little experience or questionable construction quality or reputation will not be introduced by the manufacturer.

We recommend contacting two panel manufacturers (one Japanese and one overseas) to get an impression of the panel manufacturers and compare the implementation costs.

[Example of search method: Manufacturer name, PV or Solar, Housing]
If you have time, it may be a good idea to contact another panel manufacturer. It is also a good idea to contact the solar power generation system services offered by major power companies (e.g. TEPCO Energy Partner) and compare prices.
To make inquiries, contact, contracts, etc. go more smoothly, it is a good idea to create a folder on your PC in advance, such as “Considering a residential PV system,” and save the following basic information in a Word file or similar.

• Address and phone number
• Contract menu and contract power listed on the power company’s bill
• If possible, documents such as house drawings (especially those showing the shape/size of the roof)

Example: A person living in Tokyo is considering installing residential PV system on the roof of their house.1. Search for domestic manufacturer “Panasonic solar home”:
https://sumai.panasonic.jp/solar/
Click the orange “Consult by email” link on this site twice, then click “Agree to the handling of personal information.” Fill out the necessary information in the inquiry form and submit it.2. Search for overseas manufacturer “Hanwha (or Q Cells ) solar home”:
https://www.q-cells.jp/products/residential_info
“Inquiry” or “Request a quote” on the right side of this site, fill in the necessary information in the inquiry form and submit it.3. For further comparison, search for “TEPCO solar home”:
https://www.tepco.co.jp/ep/kurashi/denka/index-j.html
Click on “Click here to inquire about equipment installation” at the bottom of this site. Once you click on it, fill in the necessary information in the “Application Form” that opens and submit it.

After submitting the contact form, please wait for replies from the companies introduced to you by the manufacturers and power companies, and then compare and consider the quotations and simulation references you receive from each company.

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Unfortunately, as we are a company catering to professionals in the PV industry, we are unable to respond to inquiries from general consumers. We apologize for this.