Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Germany sets new PV installation record in 2012

Germany’s Federal Network Agency has again at the last minute released the latest photovoltaic installation figures and feed-in tariff (FIT) reductions. While last December saw just 330 MW of new plants added, a new installation record was seen in 2012. Meanwhile, FITs will drop 2.2% over the next three months.

A 2.2% photovoltaic FIT decrease will be applied in February, March and April.

Photon Energy

The Federal Network Agency has today, January 31, published Germany’s installation figures for both December and, thus, the whole of last year. Overall, it says 7.6 GW of newly installed photovoltaics were added to the grid. "This again represents a record," stated Jochen Homann, president of the agency.

As such, the annual photovoltaic expansion corridor of between 2.5 and 3.5 GW was clearly exceeded. Already in 2010 and 2011 each, Germany installed 7.5 MW of photovoltaics.

However, it is often overlooked that politics, via its constant attacks on solar subsidies, have contributed to the strong expansion of photovoltaics in Germany. Indeed, contrary to the objective of limiting expansion, the federal government has repeatedly triggered an artificial increase in demand for photovoltaic systems.

FITs

Since November, Germany’s photovoltaic FITs have been lowered monthly. After a capacity increase of 330.10 MW in December, another FIT decrease of 2.2% in February, March and April will be applied.

Consequently, in February, photovoltaic systems will receive a tariff of between €0.1152 and €0.1664/kWh, depending on size. By April, they will decrease to €0.1102/kWh for large photovoltaic plants, and €0.1592 for small rooftop systems.

Translated and edited by Becky Beetz.