The government will require utilities to purchase surplus electricity generated from solar power systems at a predetermined price for 10 years, possibly as early as this year.
In an effort to encourage use of renewable energy sources and stimulate the flagging economy, the government will introduce a "feed-in" tariff scheme under which owners of solar power systems connected to the grid will be paid a premium rate.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday it is considering initially setting the rate at around ¥50 per kilowatt hour for extra power produced by a household equipped with a photovoltaic power system, up from the average of ¥24 such energy currently goes for on the market.