Though the nuclear power plant crisis in Japan will not permanently end the development of nuclear power, it could have short-term impacts on the solar industry by affecting government subsidy cuts in Italy and Germany in 2011, according to solar companies.

Due to the nuclear accident in Japan, Italy will reportedly reduce subsidies by less than the originally expected 30% in May. Germany has shut down seven nuclear power plants, which could breathe new life to the country's solar market. In a recent survey, 80% of Germans are anti-nuclear power.

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, has indicated that it will not end nuclear power plant operations, but has asked the European Union and G20 to come up with solutions for the nuclear power incident in Japan.