Up2Me - Photovoltaics in Germany

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News from Germany:

PHOTOVOLTAICS IN GERMANY

Did you know that Germany was the fastest growing major PV market in the world in 2005 and 2006? In 2006, over 1GWp of PV were installed. The German PV industry generates over 100,000 jobs in production, distribution and installation. Over 90% of solar PV installations are in grid-tied applications in Germany.

The aim is to meet Germany’s renewable energy goals of 12.5% of electricity consumption in 2010 and 20% in 2020. The policy also aims to encourage the development of renewable technologies, reduce external costs, and increase security of energy supply. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feed-in_tariffs_in_Germany)

In 2005, 10 per cent of electricity in Germany came from renewable sources and 70 per cent of this was supported with feed-in tariffs. The Federal Environment Ministry estimates that this will save 52 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2010. The average level of feed-in tariff was €0.0953 per kWh in 2005 (compared to an average cost of displaced energy of €0.047 kWh). The total level of subsidy was €2.4 billion, at a cost per consumer of €0.0056 per kWh (3 per cent of household electricity costs).

Demand is such that Bavarian farmers, with large barn roofs and fields, are the biggest customer group for PV in the world, he adds. Jürgen Kaiser-Gerwens, finance director at Schott AG, a maker of PV cells and of "concentrated solar power" - solar collectors that concentrate the sun's rays to heat a fluid and drive turbines - agrees.

The secret of German success is the "feed-in tariff" (FIT). Anyone generating electricity from solar PV, wind or hydro gets a guaranteed payment of four times the market rate - currently about 35p pence a unit - for 20 years This reduces the payback time on such technologies to less than 10 years and offers a return on investment of 8-9%. The cost is spread by generating companies among all users and has added about one cent/kwh to the average bill, or an extra €1.50 (£1) a month.

For more information
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jul/23/germany.greenbusiness


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	News from Germany: PHOTOVOLTAICS IN GERMANY Did you know that Germany was the fastest growing major PV market in the world in 2005 and 2006? In 2006, over 1GWp of PV were installed. The German PV industry generates over 100,000 jobs in production, distribution and installation. Over 90% of solar PV installations are in grid-tied applications in Germany. The aim is to meet Germany’s renewable energy goals of 12.5% of electricity consumption in 2010 and 20% in 2020. The policy also aims to encourage the development of renewable technologies, reduce external costs, and increase security of energy supply. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feed-in_tariffs_in_Germany) In 2005, 10 per cent of electricity in Germany came from renewable sources and 70 per cent of this was supported with feed-in tariffs. The Federal Environment Ministry estimates that this will save 52 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2010. The average level of feed-in tariff was €0.0953 per kWh in 2005 (compared to an average cost of displaced energy of €0.047 kWh). The total level of subsidy was €2.4 billion, at a cost per consumer of €0.0056 per kWh (3 per cent of household electricity costs). Demand is such that Bavarian farmers, with large barn roofs and fields, are the biggest customer group for PV in the world, he adds. Jürgen Kaiser-Gerwens, finance director at Schott AG, a maker of PV cells and of "concentrated solar power" - solar collectors that concentrate the sun's rays to heat a fluid and drive turbines - agrees. The secret of German success is the "feed-in tariff" (FIT). Anyone generating electricity from solar PV, wind or hydro gets a guaranteed payment of four times the market rate - currently about 35p pence a unit - for 20 years This reduces the payback time on such technologies to less than 10 years and offers a return on investment of 8-9%. The cost is spread by generating companies among all users and has added about one cent/kwh to the average bill, or an extra €1.50 (£1) a month. For more information http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jul/23/germany.greenbusiness