Germany is the world's leading market for PV energy. 55% of the PV capacity worldwide is installed in Germany, and last year Germany's PV industry generated EUR3.8 billion in sales. A main reason for Germany's leading position in PV energy is the Renewable Energies Act, (EEG). The law requires power companies to buy electricity from the owners of PV installations at a set price, 37.96 to 54.21 EURct/kWh over twenty years.
This so-called "feed in tariff" has resulted in a ready-made market for PV technology production. Additionally, various government incentives are available for companies investing in eastern Germany, in areas such as "Silicon Saxony," where numerous PV and semiconductor firms are present.
It is not only the political conditions that encourage photovoltaic investments in Germany. Germany's workforce and research landscape are also superb. For example, the Canadian company ARISE Technologies Corporation is building a PV cell manufacturing plant in the German town of Bischofswerda. The company's CEO Ian MacLellan sees Germany's workforce as one of its main features, "We selected Germany because it is the largest solar market in the world. It has a high concentration of solar technology companies and has access to skilled technical labor."
American solar company First Solar is also opening its EUR115 million facility in the German town of Frankfurt/Oder at the beginning of July. Furthermore, the California-based start-up Signet Solar recently broke ground on a new R and D, and production center near the city of Dresden.
Germany is committed to the future of PV energy and renewable energies. The country possesses all of the requirements both politically and economically for international PV companies to thrive, as many already are.
Invest in Germany is the official investment promotion agency of Germany. Its mandate is to assist and advise international companies about investment opportunities in Germany. Invest in Germany can be found in Hall 1, Booth 1.03.09 at Intersolar in Freiburg.
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