Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

PV contribution reaches 6% in Germany

The share of solar power in Germany’s energy mix has risen 50% on the back of increased photovoltaic installation activity and a high number of sunshine hours. Overall, the contribution of renewable energy in the country grew in the first nine months of 2012.

Germany installed 1.85 GW of photovoltaics between this July and September.

SunEnergy

In the first three quarters of 2012, 24.9 billion kWh of solar energy were produced in Germany, according to the German Association of Energy and water Industries (BDEW). This is compared to the 16.5 billion kWh seen in the first nine months of 2011.

The increase is said to be due to the continued strong growth in newly installed photovoltaic plants – between July and September, 1.85 GW are said to have been installed alone – and the favorable sunlight conditions seen this year.

The BDEW said that in September alone, more solar energy was generated than in any month in 2011. Overall, the share of photovoltaics in Germany has risen from 4.1 to 6.1% within the last year. Consequently, photovoltaics is the most important renewable energy source in the country, after wind, which saw its contribution rise from 8 to 8.6% in the same period.

In the first nine months of the year, renewables accounted for around 26% of Germany’s electricity mix. Due to weather conditions, however, the BDEW predicts that this share will be reduced in Q4.

Translated and edited by Becky Beetz.