NEW SUNSHINE PROJECT AND PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVELOPMENT IN JAPAN

The global environmental consequences of CO2 discharge resulting from energy use are causing mounting concern regarding the sustainability o f our development in the future. Japan successfully overcame two energ y crisis in the 1970s despite the fragile nature of its energy structu re and was able to maintain economic growth, resulting in a dramatic i mprovement in its industrial technology as a whole. Noteworthy is that such efforts were successful because they included such means as subs tituting an unconstrained production factor (technology) for a constra ined production factor (energy) in a manner similar to an ecosystem. G iven the two-directional nature of CO2 discharge and energy consumptio n, the experience of Japan can provide informative suggestions in resp onse to current worldwide concerns regarding global warming due to CO2 discharge. However, Japan may now face the prospect of energy and env ironmental constraints again following the fall of international oil p rices. In response, MITI established the New Sunshine Program (R&D pro gram on Energy and Environmental Technologies) by integrating related R&D programs. A PV power generation system is one of the priority proj ects in the Program.