The Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) has released a voluntary reference guide to support the adoption of vertical bifacial PV in Japan, outlining design, performance and compliance considerations for projects in high snow conditions, high latitudes and limited space.
Japan’s leading solar industry group has given a major boost to the adoption of vertical bifacial PV with the publication of a new voluntary reference guide.
The JPEAs vertical two-sided solar guide provides practical guidance for investors, engineers and project developers in a format that is still largely unknown in Japan. This move underlines JPEA’s strategic push towards vertical two-sided PV, offering advantages in the snow-prone, high latitude and limited space of the Japanese archipelago.
The Japanese-language reference guide outlines generation characteristics, design considerations, operational best practices and regulatory compliance, positioning vertical bifacial systems as a viable new segment for the Japanese solar market.
The JPEA outlines case studies from universities and private companies with illustrated layouts, module orientations and expected outputs. The guide also covers safety measures and approaches to land sharing for agricultural or industrial installations. The organization noted that the document is a voluntary reference guide and not a regulatory standard, and said it plans to expand it with additional data and examples as adoption increases.
Several pioneering vertical bifacial PV projects have already demonstrated the viability of the technology in Japan. Particularly in vertical agrivoltaic systems, these installations maintain agricultural land productivity while generating clean energy, which is closely aligned with national objectives.
In December 2025, AirWater and Suichoku Solar KK deployed a 178 kW vertical PV system in a parking lot of JP Two-Way Contact Co. in Japan’s Tottori Prefecture, which supplies approximately 25% of the facility’s electricity under an on-site power purchase agreement (PPA). The installation reportedly makes efficient use of limited space and is resistant to snow damage.
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