Manufacturers can barely keep up as demand for solar cells skyrocket. In 2009 alone a capacity equivalent of three large coal fired power plants will be installed.
A plan by the German government some years ago to promote solar cells through feed-in-tariffs and other incentives has led to a boom in installed capacity. The country now has more than a third of the world's total capacity – 5.3 GW (gigawatt) of 15 GW. During 2009 alone close to 3 GW will be installed. This is a world record for installed solar capacity in one country during one year.
"We're all surprised by how strongly demand is picking up now (…) It'll be well over 2.5 (GW). But it won't be over 3 GW simply because there isn't enough capacity. We're already at the limit," Carsten Koernig, head of BSW, Germany's solar industry association, tells Reuters.
The new numbers imply that solar power is beginning to satisfy far more than just a tiny fraction of Germany's demand for power. This year's installed capacity is equivalent of having three large coal power plants or three nuclear plants built.
According to BSW, the present peak may partly be due to government signals that the incentives will be lowered in the near future, as the industry is seen as mature and thus shouldn't need the same amount of public funding. Investors are starting projects now to make sure they fall under the present, favorable rules.
"We're now confident the government does not want to endanger the sector and any adjustments to the law will be minor. The government sent us an important signal that they're still counting on renewable energy," Carsten Koernig comments.
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