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Renewable energy success makes Germany a magnet for green business

“With record demand every year in Germany and growing markets across Europe, it’s not surprising that many of the world’s biggest solar and wind players are located here,”

Germany Achieves 17% Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity : Renewable Energy News 3 March 11, Renewable energy sourced electricity in German homes exceeded 17 percent in 2010 and solar installations doubled reports Germany Trade & Invest. Germany’s solar market continues to be the biggest in the world, with new solar power systems installed in 2010 amounting to a staggering 7 GW and representing nearly half the world market. 

……….Much of the uptake was and continues to be triggered by a robust solar feed in tariff program.

Nearly 20 years ago, the German government implemented the Electricity Feed Act, which required utility companies to purchase electricity generated from renewable resources such as home solar power systems at set rates. An important factor was the program worked on a “gross” model whereby all electricity generated by solar arrays attracted the premium rate, rather than a net model that only pays on surplus electricity exported to the mains grid.

The rates were very generous and Germany’s solar revolution began; with the rest of the world, including Australia, now playing catch-up. Australia’s efforts to become a solar leader have been compromised in the past few years through situations such as the chopping and changing of solar rebates and incentives; at times with little or no warning……..
“With record demand every year in Germany and growing markets across Europe, it’s not surprising that many of the world’s biggest solar and wind players are located here,” said Tobias Homann, Senior Manager for Photovoltaics at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

Germany Achieves 17% Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity : Renewable Energy News

March 4, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, renewable