Forum Solarpraxis

Tobias Cossen, project manager, Renewable Energy Project Development Program for Sub-Saharan Africa, at the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), discusses the developing solar market in Kenya.

Ulrike Brückner of the German law firm Rödl & Partner discusses the state of Ghana’s burgeoning solar market, including investment opportunities and government efforts to attract foreign investment.

Germany’s Federal Environment Minister has presented his concept for “electricity price protection”. Altmaier’s aim is to limit the energy transition cost and, thus, set the stage for photovoltaic, wind and biomass cuts. The amendments are expected to be passed before the summer break.

The solar branch will have to tide through challenges, but it can also look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel.

The argument for and against the duties on Chinese PV products dominated the CEO panel that took place at the 13th Forum Solarpraxis.

Germany’s federal Energy Minister, Peter Altmaier has opened the 13th Forum Solarpraxis. In his speech, he linked his political fate with the success of the energy transition. In the coming week, Germany’s first EEG dialogue on photovoltaics is expected to take place.

Germany’s Environment Minister expects new photovoltaic capacity additions to halve in 2013. These expectations would fall in line with the government’s annual expansion plans.

Currently the government in Warsaw is still struggling with the reorganization of its solar subsidies. Nevertheless, project planners have already put their hopes in a market that promises attractive subsidies for both large and small photovoltaic systems.

The photovoltaics industry is going through some major changes. A still deteriorating global economic situation, government belt-tightening and a number of corporate incidents have left the industry in an unfamiliar, unhealthy state at the end of 2011. With the end of the year fast approaching, it is time for a change.

2011 has, arguably, presented photovoltaic companies with the toughest solar market challenges to date. Subsidy cuts, freefalling prices, weak demand, overcapacities, financial uncertainty, insolvencies: these factors, and many more, have conspired to test companies’ mettle. However, what has led the industry to this situation, and what is in store for 2012? According to the analysts, intensified consolidation and falling component prices, and a situation where only the vertically integrated will survive.