Solar Energy Perspectives - IEA

Solar Energy Perspectives: Policies
up being much stronger than desirable. Perhaps more importantly, unscheduled changes
could cause investors to lose faith entirely in the programme and render it ineffective in
the future.
Figure 10.5 New PV installations in Germany, from October 2009 to October 2010
> 500 kWp
100 kWp - 500 kWp
10 kWp - 100 kWp
0 kWp - 10 kWp
Share of installed capacity by size of installation
21%
10%
16%
52%
Figure 10.5_a
> 500 kWp
100 kWp - 500 kWp
10 kWp - 100 kWp
0 kWp - 10 kWp
Number of installations by size of installation
6 995 1 184
126 396
161 864
Source: Bundesnetzagentur.
Figure 10.5_b
Key point
PV growth in Germany is driven by thousands of small, local initiatives.
Whatever option is chosen, policy makers and stakeholders alike have a real interest in
making their short- and mid-term objectives explicit in quantitative terms. This might help
reconcile the somewhat conflicting recommendations of adjusting support levels frequently
enough to keep pace with rapid cost reductions and avoid over-paying, while providing
investors with a stable, predictable policy environment.
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