The 1.5GW of PV that Japan installed in the first quarter is up from 400MW during the same period last year,according to research firm IHS.

Thecountry is expected to install less capacity in 2013 than China,but high PV kit prices will probably rocket it to the top of the internationalheap in terms of revenue.

“Followingthe earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that led to the shutdown of nuclearfacilities and a shortage of electricity, Japan has aggressively moved topromote solar energy,” says Sam Wilkinson, IHS solar research manager.