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Revision as of 12:44, 6 August 2012

Erlasee Solar Park
Price of PV systems (rooftop, up to 100kW) in Germany[1]
Average insolation in Germany.

Germany is one of the world's top photovoltaics (PV) installers, with a solar PV capacity as of 2011 of almost 25 gigawatts (GW). As of June 2012, there were about 28 GW of photovoltaics connected to the power network [2] The German solar PV industry installed about 7.5 GW in 2011,[3] and solar PV provided 18 TWh (billion kilowatt-hours) of electricity in 2011, about 3% of total electricity.[4] Some market analysts expect this could reach 25 percent by 2050.[5]

Large PV power plants in Germany include Senftenberg Solarpark, Finsterwalde Solar Park, Lieberose Photovoltaic Park, Strasskirchen Solar Park, Waldpolenz Solar Park, and Köthen Solar Park.

Overview

The German solar PV industry installed 7.5 GW in 2011,[3] and solar PV provided 18 TWh of electricity in 2011, about 3% of total electricity.[4] On midday of Saturday May 26, 2012, solar energy provided over 40% of total electricity consumption in Germany, and 20% for the 24h-day. The federal government has set a target of 66 GW of installed solar PV capacity by 2030,[6] to be reached with an annual increase of 2.5–3.5 GW.[7]

Solar power in Germany has been growing considerably due to the country's feed-in tariffs for renewable energy which were introduced by the German Renewable Energy Act. Prices of PV systems have decreased more than 50% in 5 years since 2006.[1]

As of 2012, the FiT costs about 14 billion euros (US$18 billion) per year for wind and solar installations. The cost is spread across all rate-payers in a surcharge of 3.6 €ct (4.6 ¢) per kWh[8] (approximately 10% of the total domestic cost of electricity).[9] On the other hand, as expensive peak power plants are displaced, the price at the power exchange is reduced due to the so called merit order effect.[10]

German electricity generation

Germany set a world record for solar power production with 22 GW produced at midday on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 May 2012. This was a third of peak electricity needs on Friday and almost half on Saturday.[11]

A feed-in tariff is the most effective means of developing solar power.[12] It is the same as a power purchase agreement, but is at a much higher rate. As the industry matures, it is reduced and becomes the same as a power purchase agreement. A feed-in tariff allows investors a guaranteed return on investment - a requirement for development. A primary difference between a tax credit and a feed-in tariff is that the cost is born the year of installation with a tax credit, and is spread out over many years with a feed-in tariff. In both cases the incentive cost is distributed over all consumers. This means that the initial cost is very low for a feed-in tariff and very high for a tax credit. In both cases the learning curve reduces the cost of installation, but is not a large contribution to growth, as grid parity is still always reached.[13]

Approximately 9 GW of photovoltaic plants in Germany are being retrofitted to shut down if the frequency increases to 50.2 Hz, indicating an excess of electricity on the grid. The frequency of the grid is available on the Internet, and is unlikely to reach 50.2 Hz during normal operation, but can if Germany is exporting power to countries that suddenly experience a power failure, as happened in 2003 and 2006.[14][15][16]

Statistics

Increases in installed solar PV power capacity and generation in recent years is shown in the table below:[17]

Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Capacity (MW) 0.6 2.0 3.0 5.0 6.0 8.0 11 18 23 32 76
Generation (GWh) 0.6 1.6 3.2 5.8 8.0 11 16 26 32 42 64
% of total electricity consumption <0.001 <0.001 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.006 0.008 0.01
Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Capacity (MW) 76 186 296 435 1,105 2,056 2,899 4,170 6,120 9,914 17,320
Generation (GWh) 64 76 162 313 556 1,282 2,220 3,075 4,420 6,578 12,000
% of total electricity consumption 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.05 0.09 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.1 2.0
Year 2010 2011 2012* 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Capacity (GW) 17.3 24.8 29.1
Generation (TWh) 12 18 14.7
% of total electricity consumption 2.0 3.2 5.3

* As from first half of 2012

Photovoltaic power stations

Main article: List of photovoltaic power stations
Largest German photovoltaic power stations (20 MW or larger)[18]
PV Power station Nominal Power[19]
in MWp		 Annual
Yield
in GWh		 Capacity
factor		 Notes
Brandenburg-Briest Solarpark 91
Solarpark Finow Tower 84.7 Completed in 2010, 2011
Finsterwalde Solar Park 80.7 Phase I completed 2009,
phase II and III 2010 [20][21]
Senftenberg Solarpark[22] 78 Phase II and III completed 2011, another 70 MW phase planned
Strasskirchen Solar Park 54 57[18] 0.12
Lieberose Photovoltaic Park 53 53[23] 0.11 2009 [24][23]
Tutow Solar Park 52 Tutow I completed in 2009, II in 2010, III in 2011
Kothen Solar Park 45 2009
Waldpolenz Solar Park 40[25] 0.11 550,000 First Solar thin-film CdTe modules. Completed December 2008 [26][25]
Fürstenwalde Solar Park 39.64 36.5 2011
Reckahn Solar Park 36 2011
Lauingen Energy Park 25.7 26.98[27] Completed in 2010
Pocking Solar Park 22
Mengkofen Solar Park 21.7
Rothenburg Solar Park 20
Other notable photovoltaic (PV) power plants[28]
DC Peak Power Location Description Annual yield Capacity factor Coordinates
12 MW Arnstein 1408 SOLON mover
(see Erlasee Solar Park) 		14,000 MWh 0.13 50°0′10″N 9°55′15″E / 50.00278°N 9.92083°E / 50.00278; 9.92083 (Erlasee Solar Park)
  8.4 MW Gottelborn Solar Park
  6.3 MW Mühlhausen 57,600 solar modules
(see Bavaria Solarpark) 		6,750 MWh 0.12 49°09′29″N 11°25′59″E / 49.15806°N 11.43306°E / 49.15806; 11.43306 (Bavaria Solarpark)
  6 MW Rote Jahne Solar Park[29]
  5 MW Bürstadt 30,000 BP Solar modules 4,200 MWh 0.10 49°39′N 8°28′E / 49.650°N 8.467°E / 49.650; 8.467
  5 MW Espenhain 33,500 Shell Solar modules 5,000 MWh 0.11 51°12′N 12°31′E / 51.200°N 12.517°E / 51.200; 12.517
  4 MW Merseburg 25,000 BP solar modules
(see Geiseltalsee Solarpark) 		3,400 MWh 0.10 51°22′N 12°0′E / 51.367°N 12.000°E / 51.367; 12.000 (Geiseltalsee Solarpark)
  4 MW Hemau 32,740 solar modules 3,900 MWh 0.11 49°3′N 11°47′E / 49.050°N 11.783°E / 49.050; 11.783
  3.3 MW Dingolfing Solara, Sharp and Kyocera solar modules 3,050 MWh 0.11 48°38′N 12°30′E / 48.633°N 12.500°E / 48.633; 12.500
  1.9 MW Guenching Sharp solar modules
(see Bavaria Solarpark) 		- 49°16′N 11°34′E / 49.267°N 11.567°E / 49.267; 11.567 (Bavaria Solarpark)
  1.9 MW Minihof Sharp solar modules
(see Bavaria Solarpark) 		- n.a.

Companies

A portion of the Waldpolenz Solar Park

Major German solar companies include:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b BSW-Solar, Statistische Zahlen der deutschen Solarstrombranche (Photovoltaik), Oct 2011
  2. ^ http://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2012-06/solarfoerderung-kompromiss
  3. ^ a b Eckert, Vera (9 January 2012). "German solar boom strengthens critics of subsidies". Reuters. Retrieved 9 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b "German solar power output up 60 pct in 2011". Reuters. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ Another Sunny Year for Solar Power
  6. ^ Property Wire (2010-04-22). "Germany Reducing Incentives For Solar Property Investment". NuWire Investor. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  7. ^ Lang, Matthias (21 November 2011). "New German 7.5 GWp PV Record by End of 2011". German Energy Blog. Retrieved 9 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ Lang, Matthias (14 October 2011). "2012 EEG Surcharge Increases Slightly to 3.592 ct/kWh". German Energy Blog. Retrieved 9 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ http://www.energy.eu/#domestic
  10. ^ Morris, Craig (2 February 2012). "Merit order effect of PV in Germany". Renewables International. Retrieved 17 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Solar power generation world record set in Germany". guardian.co.uk. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  12. ^ The U.S. Needs a Feed-in Tariff
  13. ^ PV Learning Curves:Past and Future Drivers of Cost Reduction
  14. ^ The “50.2 Hz” problem for photovoltaic power plants
  15. ^ Timeline of the mains frequency
  16. ^ Impact of Large-scale Distributed Generation on Network Stability During Over-Frequency Events & Development of Mitigation Measures
  17. ^ Böhme, Dieter (23 March 2011). "Zeitreihen zur Entwicklung der erneuerbaren Energien in Deutschland" (PDF) (in German). Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Retrieved 11 June 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b PV Resources.com (2009). World's largest photovoltaic power plants
  19. ^ Note that nominal power may be AC or DC, depending on the plant. See AC-DC conundrum: Latest PV power-plant ratings follies put focus on reporting inconsistency (update)
  20. ^ Good Energies, NIBC Infrastructure Partners acquire Finsterwalde II and Finsterwalde III
  21. ^ Implementation of the 39 MWp – „Solar Park Finsterwalde II and Finsterwalde III“
  22. ^ SolarServer: 78 MW of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic plant connected to grid in Senftenberg, Germany
  23. ^ a b Lieberose solar farm becomes Germany's biggest, World's second-biggest
  24. ^ Germany Turns On World's Biggest Solar Power Project
  25. ^ a b Germany's largest Solar parks connected to the grid (19 Dec 08)
  26. ^ Large photovoltaic plant in Muldentalkreis
  27. ^ Lauingen Energy Park
  28. ^ World's largest photovoltaic power plants
  29. ^ Construction Complete on 6 MW Thin-Film PV Installation in Germany Renewable Energy Access, 5 April 2007.
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