Mega-Solar Countermeasure Package Adopted: Stricter Rules and a Review of Support for Ground-Mounted SolarThe government compiled measures for worries about big solar power plants
On December 23, 2025, a cabinet-level meeting adopted the "Countermeasure Package for Large-Scale Solar Power Projects (Mega-Solar)". Its pillars are stronger legal rules to protect nature, safety and landscape, closer cooperation with local governments, and focusing support on projects that coexist with communities. A policy to end FIT/FIP support for commercial ground-mounted solar from FY2027 was also decided, and the related ordinances and notices were revised at the end of March 2026.
- December 23, 2025Cabinet-level meeting adopts the countermeasure package
- February 2026The price calculation committee concludes that ground-mounted solar should be excluded from new support from FY2027
- End of March 2026Related ordinances and notices revised and promulgated
- April 1, 2027Revision scheduled to take effect
Key points
- Three pillars: stronger legal controls on improper projects, closer cooperation with local efforts, and focusing support on community-friendly projects
- For safety, the package includes a system under the Electricity Business Act in which a third-party body checks that the structure of solar equipment meets technical standards
- To strengthen cybersecurity, obtaining the "JC-STAR" label will be required for devices connected to the power grid
- Support funded by the renewable energy surcharge for commercial ground-mounted solar from FY2027 was to be considered for abolition; it was later decided to exclude it from support (ordinances and notices revised at the end of March 2026, with effect planned from April 1, 2027)
- The package also includes focusing support on community-friendly installations such as rooftops (METI, Ministry of the Environment, MLIT and MAFF)
What to do in practice
- For ground-mounted plans and existing projects, sort out compliance with related laws and local ordinances, and whether support exists from FY2027
- If you are considering rooftop installation at a factory or warehouse, check the progress of the discussion on focused support in the published materials
Big solar power plants (mega-solar) can cause worries about nature, safety and scenery. So in December 2025 the government put together a set of measures. They include stronger rules and a review of national support for ground-mounted systems.
Points
- Make the rules stronger to protect nature, safety and scenery
- Build a way for local governments and the national government to work together
- End national support for ground-mounted systems from FY2027, and put more effort into types that get along with local communities, such as rooftops
What the words mean
- Mega-solar
- A very large solar power plant
- Landscape
- How a town or nature looks; the scenery
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) / Agency for Natural Resources and Energy: Agency for Natural Resources and Energy: Focusing FIT/FIP support for commercial solar (July 28, 2026, Document 2; includes the outline and progress of the large-scale solar countermeasure package)
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.