Former east Germany gains solar boost

✍ Scribed by Ralph Kappler

• Book ID: 104439668
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 116 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1755-0084
• DOI: 10.1016/s1471-0846(08)70097-0

✦ Synopsis

Ralph Kappler 842 MW of PV cells, and 659 MW of PV modules were produced in Germany in 2007. Production capacities along the solar value chain continue to grow at high rates, with over 15 factories currently under construction. In total, 1.7 billion was invested in capacity expansion in 2007. The export quota of Germany's PV industry is 43%, having reached 2.4bn in 2007, and is expected to more than double by 2010. Production capacity for cells and modules is concentrated in the eastern and central areas of Germany -where over 75% of crystalline modules, and over 90% of thin fi lm modules are manufactured. "This success is largely based on consistent policies and the [FiT] legislation, which allows [consumers and businesses] to sell [PV]-generated electricity at a long-term, guaranteed premium price", says Hans-Josef Fell, a prominent MP who tabled the FiT law in 1999.