FY2026 Tender for Commercial Solar: FIP Projects of 250 kW or More, Ceiling JPY 9.6 in All Four RoundsBig solar power plants have their buying price decided by tender
On March 19, 2026, METI set out which commercial solar projects will have their FY2026 purchase price decided by tender. The tender covers FIP-certified projects of 250 kW or more, with rooftop installations exempt. There are four rounds, and the ceiling price is JPY 9.6 in every round. From FY2027, this category is outside FIT/FIP support.
- ○Applies: It is a FIP-certified project
- ○Applies: It is 250 kW or more
- ×Does not apply: It is rooftop (exempt from tender)
Key points
- FY2026 tender targets: FIP-certified commercial solar of 250 kW or more (rooftop installations are exempt from tender)
- Four tender rounds in FY2026, with a ceiling price of JPY 9.6 in every round
- From FY2027, this tender category is excluded from FIT/FIP support
- The non-tender ground-mounted category of 50 kW or more is also JPY 9.6 in FY2026 and outside support from FY2027
What to do in practice
- For projects planned around the tender, check whether the economics work at the JPY 9.6 ceiling across the four rounds
- Consider uses other than power sales, such as self-consumption, on the premise that support ends from FY2027
For big solar power plants (250 kW or more that meet certain conditions), the buying price is decided by a method called tender. There are four rounds in FY2026, and the upper limit in every round is JPY 9.6 per kWh. Rooftop systems do not have to join the tender.
- FY2026Four tender rounds. The limit is JPY 9.6 per kWh
- From FY2027This category is outside national buying support
Points
- There are four tender rounds in FY2026
- The upper limit on the price is JPY 9.6 in every round
- Systems placed on rooftops do not have to take part in the tender
What the words mean
- Tender
- A method where people say how much they can do it for, and those who meet the conditions are chosen
- FIP
- A system where the government adds extra support on top of the price at which the electricity is sold
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) / Agency for Natural Resources and Energy: METI: FIT/FIP purchase prices from FY2026 and the FY2026 surcharge rate set (March 19, 2026)
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.