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23.08.2010 Market research: Germany will see a 71% growth in photovoltaics capacity in 2010

According to market research company iSuppli Corp (El Segundo, California, USA), attractive investment conditions in the first half of 2010 are indicating an excellent year for the photovoltaics sector in Germany. In 2010, iSuppli is expecting a photovoltaics capacity of 6.6 Gigawatts (GW) in Germany, a 71 percent increase over 2009 (3.9 GW). According to iSuppli, the situation in Germany is to be better still in 2011 with a capacity of 9.5 GW. "The reduction in the solar power feed allowance, coming into force from July, has resulted in a sharp increase in installations in the second quarter because consumers are looking to take advantage of the national feed allowance before it is reduced", comments Dr. Henning Wicht, Director and Chief Analyst for Photovoltaics at iSuppli.

"Despite the reductions, iSuppli is forecasting continued strong demand for on-roof solar systems in the second half but turnover will not reach that of the second quarter". Germany will continue to play a leading role in the photovoltaics market in Europe and the whole world, stresses iSuppli.

Germany is not only where the most photovoltaic systems are being built, it is also where German funding policy and feed allowances are setting examples for other countries and their support for solar energy.

Source: iSuppli Corporation

   
   
11.05.2010 New study: Germany as a location for solar – Medium-sized businesses anticipate increase in the number of jobs in the photovoltaics sector

Medium-sized businesses see a high level of attractiveness in the German photovoltaics market and sustainable growth in the number of jobs – both now and in the future. Furthermore, those taking part in the study soon anticipate grid-parity: Power from photovoltaics at fair market prices for the end consumer.

Germany continues to be considered the most attractive photovoltaics market.
Those participating in the study currently rate Germany as the most attractive solar power market. Even in three years the market relevance of Germany is assessed as high, albeit exceeded by USA and Southern Europe.
Eastern Europe, Asia and, in particular, USA will gain significantly in attractiveness in years to come. Further funding of renewable energies from political parties is expected.
Grid parity is drawing nearer quickly. Half the companies questioned (70% in the sunbelt) expect grid-parity in Germany in less than 5 years. 10% (in the sunbelt: 20%) even expect this to occur within the next 2 years.

Source: Concentro Management AG Solarserver.de

   
   
11.01.2010 Germany remains an attractive photovoltaics market

According to a recent photovoltaics survey right across the industry, continued market growth is expected for the whole of 2010. The wholesalers, project planners, manufacturers and fitters asked expressed their views on expectations as regards order situation, the German market, pricing and financing in 2010. Almost all companies are anticipating an increase in turnover of at least 10 to 15 percent. Some are even estimating a doubling of turnover in the coming year. We are expecting an increase of up to 3 gigawatts in Germany in 2010. Prices will drop in line with the EEC degression and suppliers will have to shoulder this otherwise investors will jump ship.

Source: Photovoltaik

   
   
14.10.2009 BSW-Solar: Tax revenues from the photovoltaic industry are higher than solar funding

Photovoltaic companies and employees paid some 3 billion in taxes in 2008. Germany’s solar industry has experienced rapid growth over recent years, reports BSW-Solar, the German Solar Industry Association, in a press release. It is not only the climate that is benefitting from this, it is also the state - according to BSW-Solar, Germany generated tax revenues totaling some 3 billion Euro from the direct and indirect taxation of German photovoltaic companies and their 50,000 or so employees in 2008 alone. Initial investment granted in the same year through the Renewable Energy Law, on the other hand, accounted for about two billion Euros, stresses BSW-Solar. According to the press release from the Solar Association, Germany’s solar industry is therefore defending itself against accusations from the conventional energy industry and its closely associated economic institutes and politicians that the market launch of solar power technology (photovoltaics) is too expensive and funding must therefore be reduced more quickly.

Source: Solarserver

   
   
08.06.2009 Greece decides upon promotion of photovoltaic roof systems

A new program in Greece is to drive forward the installation of small-scale photovoltaic roof systems. It is to be up and running by December 2019.
The end of last week saw the Greek Development Ministry announce a new program for the promotion of photovoltaic roof systems. These are systems rated at up to ten kilowatt hours on private houses and business buildings.

The approval process for the installation of solar power systems is to be simplified and licenses are to be issued more quickly. The program is to be up and running by December 2019.
Owners of small-scale photovoltaic systems are to first cover their own power requirement. They can then sell the remaining solar power to the public energy provider DIE SA at an inflated price. The ministry is hoping the new program will stimulate the Greek photovoltaic market and increase sales of solar panels, inverters and other accessories. At the beginning of the year, the Greek Parliament adopted a new law to promote solar power. According to this law, the highest in-feed tariff is 50 cents for solar power from systems rated at up to 100 kilowatts installed on the Greek islands. Solar power from larger systems is compensated with 45 cents per kilowatt hour. 5 cents less per kilowatt hour is paid for systems on the mainland. A degression is not envisaged until August 2010. According to the Greek photovoltaics association HELAPCO, existing funding applications are to be approved by the end of 2009. When installed, these systems would have a volume of more than three gigawatts of nominal power. As a result, HELAPCO are currently no longer accepting applications.

Source: Photovoltaik Magazin

   
   
27.04.2009 Photovoltaics potential in excess of 22 Gigawatts

Farmers are important dynamos of the German photovoltaics market. The expectation this year is that they will install modules with a total rating of at least 285 megawatts, corresponding to a market share of almost 20%.

Farmers value mainly service alongside attractive yield and good price-performance ratio. These are the key findings of a new study on photovoltaics in agriculture.
Two thirds of farmers have a fundamental interest in acquiring a photovoltaics system.
Agriculture has for years been deemed an important driver of the photovoltaics market. But the search so far for more accurate analysis and up-to-date figures on this customer segment has been to no avail. Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and the federal states in the east of Germany in particular have many roofs on free-standing stable and barns. Financing options for photovoltaics systems in the agricultural sector are good because farmers have relatively favourable access to credit, as the study showed. The 258 machinery syndicates, in which a number of farmers join ranks to share usage of or jointly acquire agricultural machinery more cost-effectively, play an important role in the spread of photovoltaics systems in this sector. As regional contact points and representative bodies of farmers, they have raised both the profile and proliferation of solar power generation amongst farmers.

Source: Photovoltaik Magazin

   
   
24.03.2009 Japan starts new funding program

January 13th this year saw Japan start its new funding program for photovoltaics - earlier than scheduled. Originally, solar power technology was not supposed to be funded again until the beginning of the new fiscal year in April - after expiry of the last program in 2005.

Nine billion Yen (€78m) is available to the end of March 31st for starters, a figure that should suffice for the installation of 35,000 systems with an overall capacity of 122.5 megawatt. Another 20.05 billion Yen (€174m) should be made available from April onwards for a period of one year. Parliament is to decide in March on the coming fiscal year and hence potential changes can not be ruled out. If the figure remains at 20 billion Yen, we estimate 280 megawatt could be attained.

Thanks to its program of subsidies, started in 1994, Japan headed for many years the list of countries with the highest installed power rating - until it was knocked off top spot in 2004 by Germany. Since the old subsidy law expired, Japan has almost completely disappeared off the photovoltaics map - the estimated installation capacity in 2008 was only 180 megawatts, between 3 and 4% of the global market size.

Source: Photon

   
   
08.01.2009 Sharp is channeling energy into solar

Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp is looking to start up its solar cell factory in Sakai near Osaka several months earlier. "We are making efforts to be ready before March 2010", said a Sharp spokesperson yesterday. Sakai is where liquid crystal panels for televisions and also solar cells are to be produced.

With this new factory, Sharp is looking to again outrival the current world market leader in solar cells, Q-Cells in Germany.
Q-Cells built its first factory outside of Germany (in Malaysia) and is seeking to double production.
The Germans are aiming to exceed the billion mark in 2009, measured in kilowatt equivalents. Sharp is currently at about 700 million with this set to rise to two billion kilowatts by 2010. This urgency is likely to pay dividends because the market is defying the crisis in the financial markets.
According to industry journal PV News, it is set to grow by 30 to 40% annually.

Source: Cash Daily

   
   
24.11.2008 New Study from Energy Watch Group

Rapid expansion of renewable energies is affordable - new nuclear power plants are unnecessary!
According to a press release from the Energy Watch Group (EWG), formed by the initiatives of international parliamentarians, the phasing out of fossil/nuclear energy supplies is feasible financially with manageable investments. This was the conclusion drawn by the authors of the new study, "Renewable Energy Outlook 2030". According to the study, at least 17-30% of the worldwide power and heat demand can be met by regenerative sources by 2030.

The annual capital expenditure requirement necessary will reach €62 to €124 per head of the global population by this time. Overall, required investments have ranged between €510bn and €1.021bn, depending on the speed of expansion. As a comparison, 2005 saw a worldwide expenditure of about €800bn for armaments, €120 per head of the global population. According to the press release, Germany is currently spending about €100 per citizen for investments in culture.
The "Renewable Energy Outlook 2030" study analyses two scenarios of the expansion of renewable energies - a lower and an upper variant. Supply with fuels is not considered. It deals exclusively with electrical power and, with certain limitations, with heat. Channelled into the study are technology costs, learning curves for manufacturing costs, projected investments, the different economic power of regions across the world, available potential for renewable energies and growth progression. The analysis was compiled on behalf of the Energy Watch Group by Stefan Peter (Institute for Sustainable Solutions and Innovations, ISUSI) and Dr. Harry Lehmann. The English version of "Renewable Energy Outlook 2030" is available from the Internet (155 pages, PDF format) under www.energywatchgroup.org. An abridged German version (14 pages) is also available.

Source: Energy Watch Group (EWG)

   
   
06.10.2008 Spain puts the brakes on growth in the solar industry: Solar power feed allowances are being reduced and photovoltaic expansion is being limited

The Spanish government has re-regulated the funding of solar power. As reported by Corporate Law firm Rödl & Partner in a press release, feed allowances for electricity from photovoltaic systems are sinking less than previously expected (by about 30% to 34 Cent/kWh for roof installations and 32 Cent/kWh for ground installations), but the maximum rating of roof installations will be limited in the future to 2 Megawatt (MW) and of ground installations to 10MW. The annual allocation payment is being capped for the whole of Spain at 267MW for roof installations and at 133MW for ground installations (upper limit of funding). An additional 100MW capacity has been approved for roof installations and a 60MW capacity for open-area solar parks as part of a transition ruling for 2009 and 2010. The new ruling is based on Royal Decree 1578/2008 that came into force on 28.09.2008.

In the future, allowance tariffs are to be increased/decreased in accordance with the trend of the allocation payment applied for. If all allocation capacity is used up in one round of allocations, the tariff is reduced in the next round, whilst, conversely, the tariff is increased in the next round of allocations in the event allocation payment remain free.

Rödl & Partner: Photovoltaic projects in Spain can also be cost-effective in the future. The Spanish government justifies the measures with the objective of braking, and better controlling, the rapid development of photovoltaics, whilst at the same time promoting research and development. "In the future, however, it will only be those investors applying for projects at an early stage and submitting the required documents in their entirety who have good chances of success."

Source: Rödl & Partner:
   
   
05.08.2008 Gabriel rejects nuclear plans from Glos: "We need sustainable energy policies, not nuclear energy lobbying"

"The coalition agreement is unequivocal - an exit from high-risk atomic energy technology remains in place. If the Federal Ministry of Economics tinkers with strategies to re-address it, it is not only a clear violation of the coalition agreement, it demonstrates above all that Glos is conducting out-and-out atomic lobbying". This is how Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel commented on the plans from the Federal Ministry of Economics for a "nuclear energy deployment law". Sustainable energy policies must, however, rely on a massive increase in energy efficiency and on renewable energies.
Because it is only this way that price rises for consumers can be curbed, security of supply be guaranteed and the climate protection objectives of the Federal Government be achieved, says Gabriel. Gabriel emphasizes that Germany is profiting like no other national economy from the developments in renewable energies. 250,000 people are already working in the industry sector. Environmental technology "made in Germany" is a major export. By 2020, the number of jobs in this sustainable sector will have risen to at least 500,000. "A Finance Minister looking to stall this boom is in the wrong job", says Gabriel. Prolonging the service lives of older nuclear power stations does not make fuel or electricity any cheaper. There is no safe place of disposal anywhere in the world for highly radioactive nuclear waste. At the same time, advocates of nuclear power in particular have refused a candid search for a site here in the past. Anyone wanting longer service lives without having a safe place of disposal is playing politics at the expense of future generations. According to Gabriel, prolonging the service lives of older nuclear power stations would not reduce the price of fuel or electricity. It would simply result in even higher profits for the four major energy suppliers. "Ludwig Erhard would turn in his grave if he knew his successor was confusing regulatory politics with lobbying", says the Federal Minister for the Environment.


Source: BMU
   
 
30.07.2008 Solar study course in Jena successfully accredited

When the new academic year beings this autumn, the Technical College in Jena will start a study course quite unique within Germany - Photovoltaics and Semiconductor Technology. The Technical College in Jena reports in a press release that the Bachelor course has now been accredited without any conditions attached.

The new course of study, a highly topical scientific field, enriches the range of courses offered at the Technical College. The Carl Zeiss trust is supporting the Technical College through a trust professorship in the setting up of this new focus. The new course paves the way for future employment within one of the most promising high-tech technologies - production technologies for solar cells and microelectronic chips. The goals and academic content of the course have been developed jointly by representatives of the industry so as to satisfy the growing demand for qualified engineers and to provide graduates a successful start to their professional careers. The Photovoltaics and Semiconductor course is being run in conjunction with the Institute for Photonic Technologies in Jena (IPHT). The institute has been working for years in the field of photovoltaics research. This experience and the excellent technical equipment also benefit the new course.


Source: Technical College in Jena

   
 
14.07.2008 Photovoltaics: Solar roofs continue to pay off.

Real-estate portal Immowelt.de gives the all-clear to housebuilders relying on solar power. State aid is not being cut anywhere near as much as feared, stresses Immowelt in a press release. Anyone installing a photovoltaics system and feeding the solar power generated from the sun into the public grid will, in the future, receive a not insubstantial level of support from the state. This is because the new allowance rates for solar power have not been cut anywhere near as much as feared.

The allowance rates in the Renewable Energies Law (REL) for new solar roof systems are to sink by 8% in 2009 and 2010 and by 9% in 2011. This means that the allowance for a solar roof system with a maximum rating of 30 Kilowatt is exactly 43.01 cents per Kilowatt-hour in 2009, 39.57 cents in 2010 and 36.01 cents in 2011. To date, solar power allowances have decreased by 5% annually. The new ruling affects those who, from next year on, install a solar system and feed power into the grid. A right of continuance applies for systems already installed. Immowelt: A return in capital is expected despite a lowering of the allowance. The REL regulates the prices at which electricity suppliers must take the power generated. Thanks to the support of the REL, consumers generally receive more money for the solar power fed into the grid than they need to pay for the power sourced from the supplier. An appropriate allowance is paid depending on the year in which the system was installed. This is deemed a security of investment over 20 years and remains constant.


Source: Immowelt AG

   
 
15.01.2008 German solar power industry continues on expansion course - turnover rose in 2007 by 23% to €5.5bn.

Berlin - 2007 was a year of records for the German photovoltaic sector. According to the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar), the number of solar power systems, mounted primarily on German roofs, increased by about 130,000 to a total of 430,000 systems. BSW-Solar announced that, with 1100 MWp of additional solar power output, more solar power systems were connected to the grid in Germany last year than ever before.

The turnover of German photovoltaic manufacturers rose last year by 23% to about €5.5bn. German solar companies created 10,000 new jobs in 2007. According to the German Solar Industry Association, the total number of employees in the solar industry rose to 40,000. The German Association is expecting double-digit market growth for 2008 as well.

According to BSW-Solar, solar power systems with a total rating of about 3.8 Gigawatt peak have been installed to date. The amount of electricity generated, 3000 Gigawatt hours, is theoretically sufficient to power all of the homes in Hamburg. After an expansion of 850 MWp in both 2005 and 2006, about 1100 MWp of photovoltaic power was installed in Germany in 2007.


Source: iwr
   
 
20.12.2007 Two years ago, Google embraced the concept of solar energy and installed a large photovoltaic system at their company headquarters. Now the Internet group also wants to generate revenue through the development and operation of other renewable energy generating plants.

The self-styled world-changers in Mountain View are aiming extremely high. Yet the technology with which they are looking to achieve their goals does not yet exist.

Google wants to enter the renewable energy business on a large scale. Up to now it has only been apparent that the successful company has ambitious goals. Firstly, Google wants to build plants rated at one Gigawatt (solar-thermal power plants, wind power systems and geothermal power plants). Secondly, the plants are to generate electricity cheaper than coal-fired power plants (at a cost of 1 to 3 US cents, 0.6 to 2 Euro cents, per Kilowatt hour). Thirdly, the end of November saw Larry Page, founder of Google, announce that construction work should take years rather than decades.

Source: Photon
   
 
29.11.2007 World climate protection needs new political approaches

Dr. Hermann Scheer: World climate protection needs new political approaches. World climate conferences can no longer be the measure of all things for global climate protection. We need a global alliance of states really willing to act." Dr. Hermann Scheer, Member of the Bundestag, president of EUROSOLAR and chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE), commenting on the outcome of the world climate conference in Bali:

The conference in Bali has once again demonstrated that negotiations aimed at an all-encompassing global agreement on climate protection can collapse on the smallest common denominator of a minimal compromise. But the organised pyromania of burning fossil fuels can not be stopped this way.

Whatever the outcome of such conferences, it is not sufficient to keep pace with the challenge actually posed and world civilization is at risk of losing the race against time. Introducing rapid and comprehensively laid-out steps for a turnaround in energy thinking, whilst reaching world consensus from all governments at the same time, is like squaring a circle. This is the experience borne out again from Bali.

What is necessary is an international alliance of states willing to act, "a coalition of the willing" against the on-going world war to destroy nature, which leads by setting a good example and, with it, triggers worldwide radiation of a technological revolution in the use of renewable energies. Nobody will be able to shirk away from such a dynamic.

Source: Solarnews
   
 
21.10.2007 Nobel peace prize winner Al Gore guest at 2nd German EnBW climate congress

Just a few days after being awarded the Nobel peace prize, former US Vice-President Al Gore is set to make his first public appearance in Germany - at the 2nd German EnBW climate congress at Energie Baden-Württemberg AG. October 23rd 2007 will see Gore hold his talk "An Uncomfortable Truth" as part of the event's evening program. Besides Al Gore, other renowned international climate protectors and academics will be participating in the one-day EnBW climate congress. The aim of the congress is to create an international, cross-discipline forum which allows interexchange between experts and decision-makers from the worlds of science, industry, politics and business. Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Head of the State of Baden-Württemberg Günther Oettinger will hold the opening speeches. They will shed light on "conflict risks through climate change" and the "sustainability strategy in the state of Baden-Württemberg"

Source: EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg A
 
 
08.10.2007 Solar lamps for the world's poor in the era of global climate protection

In the age of space travel, has reading in the light of petroleum lamps finally been consigned to the past once and for all? Not by any means... Over two billion people still do not have access to electricity. But petroleum lamps only provide weak lighting - and release harmful soot particles. The solarprojekt-freilassing e.V association has sought to address the problem, developing an alternative not harmful to the environment or health with the help of the German Environmental Foundation (DBU): SOLAR 2000-LED mobile solar lamps. "In Africa alone, it is estimated there are more than 50 million petroleum lamps in use. This is not only harmful to health, it is also expensive and damaging to the environment - an average of three litres of petroleum is required every month for lighting each lamp. The upshot is an annual emission of 80 kilograms of carbon dioxide", says DBU General Secretary Dr. Fritz Brickwedde. Continuing, he says "For 50 million petroleum lamps, this equates to 40 million tons of harmful gas in one year".

Source:DBU
 
 
19.09.2007 Solar shares flying high

Whilst the dreary autumn weather takes hold in Germany, the sun continues to shine for the prices of solar shares. This week, Solon, Solarworld & Co rallied impressively and reached new record highs. Is this the start of renewed solar hype? Anyone who thought prices of German solar shares had surpassed their Zenith is very much mistaken. Over the last few days, virtually all solar prices listed on TecDax scaled to new peaks. Q-Cells boss Anton Millner triggered the solar rally. Millner prophesized worldwide year-on-year growth of at least 40 percent in the solar industry, demonstrating far more optimism than the Bundesverband der Solarwirtschaft (German Solar Industry Association). Their forecasts show a year-on-year annual increase of just 20 percent.

This growth forecast does not surprise experts.

Source: ARD Börse
 
 
07.09.2007 German solar boom continues

The boom in the German solar sector continues unabated. According to the Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft (German Solar Industry Association), solar cell production in Germany in the first 6 months of 2007 rose by a third to 300 Megawatts compared to the same period last year. Around 15 new solar factories are to be constructed in Germany by 2008. The worry concerning radical change to the Renewable Energies Act has since receded. The federal government is apparently not looking to restrict solar production and has decided against a capping of funding.
Besides Germany, hopes for the solar industry are pinned primarily on Southern Europe and the USA. A rethink in environmental protection issues has taken place in the land of endless opportunities. The funding of solar power is set to undergo expansion on a massive scale. The American Photovoltaic Exhibition Solarpower is currently taking place. This could generate new impetus.

Source: solarserver.de
 
 
13.08.2007 Solar power: On-roof photovoltaic system with 1.2MW on grid

One of the world's largest roof-mounted photovoltaic systems, in Grosselfingen (Baden-Württemberg), has been connected to the grid. Rated at 1.2 Megawatt, the system extends over 13,000m2 on three commercial buildings and is fitted with around 6,500 solar modules. The system could meet the entire alternative energy supply of 255 households. This power rating elevates the system into the Top 10 on-roof systems worldwide. The system is also impressive in regard to energy balance and environmental friendliness. An annual emission of 705 tons of carbon dioxide is prevented with the implementation of this system.

Source: solarserver.de
 
 
09.05.2007 Index shows: China and India catching up

According to a study by Ernst & Young, India and China will be the countries with the most potential for renewable energies in the coming years. Consequently these countries are considered to be worthwhile investments for the future. The quarterly appearing index, which examines the attractiveness of investments, sees the USA as the clear-cut number 1, but India and China are gaining considerable ground.
The reasons given are extremely strong economic growth and the associated "hunger" for energies. On the other hand, legislation favours these developments in terms of environmental protection and increased public sensitivity.
Internationalisation of this issue demonstrates the global importance attached to climate change.

Source:Ernst & Young
 
 
02.05.2007 Photovoltaics - enormous future potential

Whilst wind and hydro power have geographical limitations, photovoltaics has the greatest potential and the shortest distance from producer to consumer. In addition to the benefit of lower environmental pollution, this short "supply chain" means low transportation costs (if any at all).
A photovoltaic system can be installed on the smallest of roofs. No harmful CO2 gasses are emitted and even the visual aspect of a PV system argues more in favour of an investment than against.
Last but certainly not least, the service life of a good PV system is at least 25 years for this type of investment in the future.

Source: ENDS
 
 
12.04.2007 Spain to achieve 100% independence through renewable energies by 2050

According to a new Greenpeace study, Spain will be able to cover its entire electricity requirement using renewable energies by 2050. Various corners, however, are not buying into this study despite the fact that Spain also has a pioneering role in the field of renewable energies.
This quota now amounts to a proud 25%.
Further studies indicate that the costs up to this point in time will amount to a maximum of 1/3 of the costs required for atomic/gas energy
A figure of 12 cent per kwh (Germany 18 cent, California 13 cent) is anticipated by 2010. This means that solar power is not only attractive, it is also already more cost-effective than conventionally generated power.

Source: ENDS

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