Japan has selected 29 utility-scale solar projects totaling 89.2 MW in its 28th solar FIP auction
The auction was oversubscribed, attracting 33 bids for 135.4 MW against 91 MW originally offered
OCCTO says it will offer 115.4 MW capacity in the 29th auction following oversubscription in the current round
Japan has concluded the country’s 28th solar auction round, selecting a combined 89.2 MW of utility-scale solar projects with a capacity of 250 kW or higher. This is slightly lower than the 91 MW originally available for this round.
The country’s latest auction round, however, was oversubscribed. Japan’s Green Investment Promotion Organization (OCCTO) says it received 33 bids representing a combined 135.4 MW.
It finally selected 29 projects with a combined capacity of 89.2 MW, with individual capacities ranging from 350 kW to 29.5 MW.
This round attracted the lowest winning bid of JPY 0.00/kWh, while the weighted average winning bid was JPY 6.72/kWh. The highest winning bid was determined as JPY 7.89/kWh, well under the ceiling of JPY 9.60/kWh. A list of winning projects is available on OCCTO’s website.
In the previous auction round, the agency awarded 79 MW across 11 bids with a weighted average winning bid of JPY 4.61/kWh, while the lowest winning bid was JPY 0.00/kWh (see Japan Concludes 27th Solar Auction; Awards 79 MW).
Japan offers a feed-in premium (FIP) to the winners of these auctions; however, winning projects with a JPY 0.00/kWh bid forgo the premium, instead securing revenue by selling electricity on the market or through a power purchase agreement (PPA).
During fiscal year 2026, Japan will hold four bidding rounds for FIP-certified commercial solar projects of 250 kW or more, except rooftop installations, with a maximum bid price of JPY 9.6/kWh. METI says this category of commercial solar projects will no longer be eligible for FIT/FIP support from fiscal year 2027.
OCCTO will hold the 29th solar auction, or the second auction for FY2026. It has increased the capacity for the next FIP auction to 115.406 MW after the 28th auction attracted bids totaling 135.374 MW, exceeding the available capacity.
