Minerva Policy Report: EU-Japan Solar Supply Chains - Shared Vulnerabilities and Cooperation Opportunities

About the Report 

This report examines how the EU and Japan can strengthen cooperation on solar photovoltaic (PV) supply chains. Solar PV is now the fastest-growing source of electricity worldwide, but its expansion relies on manufacturing processes spread across a small number of countries. China in particular plays a dominant role, especially in the upstream and midstream steps (polysilicon, ingots, wafers and cells). This creates vulnerabilities for both the EU and Japan, which depend heavily on imports despite long-standing expertise in PV research and materials.

This report has three main objectives.

• It reviews global PV supply-chain dynamics and positions the EU and Japan within broader industrial, technological and policy trends.
• It identifies complementarities and cooperation opportunities in manufacturing, innovation, standards, sustainability and circularity.
• It proposes policy recommendations for the EU, Japan and joint cooperation frameworks that could support closer alignment.

Publication date: March 2026

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