Published on Monday, Jan 9 2012 by David Sanderson
According to new figures,
solar power has boomed in Germany over the last year, with output increasing by a massive 60 per cent.
The latest statistics show that as of November 2011, Germany had installed one million
photovoltaic systems.
If things continue in this fashion, Germany will be in a position to generate a tenth of its electricity through solar power by 2020.
The new figures from the Federal Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) show that last year, sufficient energy was generated from the sun to meet the annual energy needs of 5.1 million German homes.
Germany has vowed to aggressively pursue the opportunities offered by solar energy and the falling cost of
solar panels has attracted many householders to install the technology. The price of solar panels in Germany has halved since 2007, the figures from BSW-Solar show. Rising oil and gas prices have also been a key driver in the growth of renewable energy in the country, BSW-Solar analysts said.
Carsten Körnig, chief executive of BSW-Solar, commented, “Solar power has become an indispensable ingredient for the success of the energy transformation.”
BSW-Solar also said that solar power had boomed in Germany because of a stable policy environment which has seen the publication of regular timelines for action from the government. Mr Kornig urged the German government to make the most of these “reliable political conditions” and not to make any changes to the schedule already set out.
He commented, "This is indispensable for the continued expansion of renewable energy sources and for maintaining an attractive climate of investment in Germany”.
He added, “It's the only way to ensure that the contract between generations contained in the energy transformation will work. And it's the only way that Germany can continue to be successful in the now highly competitive growth markets."
It’s interesting to note that despite falling incentives, solar panel installations have continued to grow in popularity in Germany – an issue that is currently a concern for many in the UK. Germany’s feed-in tariff scheme continues to be reduced as solar panel costs fall. At the start of this year incentives were reduced by 15 per cent and will be reduced by a further 9 per cent in the middle of the year. Analysts say the industry is continuing to work towards a system where solar power is so affordable that incentives are not necessary anymore.
In the UK, the government plans to cut the solar power feed-in tariff by half to 21p per kWh. However, ministers have faced tough opposition to the move and a legal challenge which could delay or reduce the cuts.
The Energy Saving Trust has produced a
solar energy calculator for homeowners in the UK, which enables you to estimate how much you could save and earn through generating your own solar energy. This can help you see what sort of return you could get on investing in solar panels for your home.
Want to find out more? Contact the author.