German Solar Power Production Surges 60%; Renewables 20% of Total Electricity Supply

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Germany's solar energy output surged 60% to 18 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2011, accounting for more than 3% of national electricity generation, national industry association Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft (BSW) announced yesterday. Solar energy is producing enough electricity to power some 5.1 million households, about 1/8 the number in the entire state of Thuringia, according to a Reuters News report. The heady performance was achieved even as German solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers have experienced increasing pressures from a glut of low-priced solar panels coming out of China, and reductions in Germany's solar feed-in tariff (FiT) rates, which will fall 15% on January 1 and another 9% in mid-2012. That's led to some industry turmoil. A second German solar PV manufacturer, Solar Millennium, recently followed Solon into insolvency proceedings.

Nonetheless, Germany's solar power industry looks to be in fundamentally sound shape going forward, as the European Union's largest economy is in the early stages of shutting down its nuclear power plants. Scheduled to be completed in 2022, this should underpin investments in solar and other forms of renewable energy, raising renewable energy's share of national electricity output as high as 40%.

Though not known for its sunny climate, solar PV and thermal energy have proved themselves in Germany. Proactive government support has been leveraged by the private sector in forging Germany into a world-leading solar power market and industry. That's led the sector to become an anchor of employment and economic growth as the country continues to lead the world in transitioning to a clean energy economy.

"Solar energy has become an indispensable ingredient of a successful energy strategy shift," Managing Director Carsten Koernig said in a statement.

Solar PV power was the fastest growing of all German renewable energy economic segments in 2011, accounting for 3.2% of renewable energy output as opposed to 1.9% in 2010. Overall, renewable energy accounted for 19.9% of German power production in 2011, according to preliminary totals, as compared to 16.4% in 2010.

http://www.repost.us...e7e7f3364016b63

[Ron and Rhea 42]

Germany kicks butt in this area....the home users can sell back the energy they do not use to the gov as well. Another point is there is a plant here in the US that makes these solar panels for Germany and we export them over there...they were running out of panels last year and couldn't build enough. Question is, why not use them, you know, HERE...?

[lostinblue 1,989]

more green dribble

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/340589-solar-power-is-still-up-to-eight-times-more-expensive/

MAGDEBURG, Germany (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday solar energy subsidies should be reduced, and it could make more sense in the future to draw solar energy from places like Greece, where the sun shined longer.

Merkel said that while wind energy seemed on track to becoming commercially viable in Germany, this did not seem the case for solar energy.

Already over the past two years, Germany has sharply reduced so-called feed-in tariffs, through which investors receive a guaranteed return on generated energy output.

"But I am not sure whether we shouldn't be tackling this even more," Merkel told a regional conference of her Christian Democrat party in Magdeburg.

Europe is by far the world's biggest market for solar power yet it largely depends on government subsidies because solar power is still up to eight times more expensive than conventional forms of power like coal and gas.

The sector has boomed since the start of the millennium as investors rushed to get a slice of the next big thing amid worries about climate change and new targets encouraging countries to curb carbon emissions.

But now cash-strapped euro zone governments, grappling with debt crises and fragile economic growth, are reducing their support in order to bring down production costs and make the industry more competitive.

Merkel said it was not rational for so many subsidies to go toward a sector which ultimately produced little energy.

(Reporting By Andreas Rinke, Writing by Sarah Marsh)

http://www.reuters.c...germany-merkel-

eight times more expensive than conventional forms of power like coal and gas.The Euro is broke The party is over.

You arn't reading what I post steve

Edited December 30, 2011 by lostinblue

[lostinblue 1,989]

Germany kicks butt in this area....the home users can sell back the energy they do not use to the gov as well. Another point is there is a plant here in the US that makes these solar panels for Germany and we export them over there...they were running out of panels last year and couldn't build enough. Question is, why not use them, you know, HERE...?

No one is keeping you from putting solar panels in your back yard. Just don't ask me to pay for it

[Obama 2012 1,714]

So Steven, when are you moving to Germany or one of these other countries you adore more than America?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

No one is keeping you from putting solar panels in your back yard. Just don't ask me to pay for it

So tell us which energy source hasn't benefited from tax subsidies? Your obsession against renewable energy is peculiar.

[Susita 175]

So Steven, when are you moving to Germany or one of these other countries you adore more than America?

Admiring the accomplishments and advances of another country doesn't necessarily mean you want to leave your home for that country. The U.S. has made many technological advances that I'm sure other countries value as well. I'm just sayin'.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Admiring the accomplishments and advances of another country doesn't necessarily mean you want to leave your home for that country. The U.S. has made many technological advances that I'm sure other countries value as well. I'm just sayin'.

Isn't it funny how there seems to be a crowd of naysayers against renewable energy in this country? The excuses they come up with are irrational and emotionally charged. The future of energy in this country and the world is renewables. This is a huge transition away from fossil fuels. One that will take years and cost a lot of money up front, but in the long term, we all will benefit. Some people can't see the forest for the trees.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Isn't it funny how there seems to be a crowd of naysayers against renewable energy in this country? The excuses they come up with are irrational and emotionally charged. The future of energy in this country and the world is renewables. This is a huge transition away from fossil fuels. One that will take years and cost a lot of money up front, but in the long term, we all will benefit. Some people can't see the forest for the trees.

Europe is by far the world's biggest market for solar power yet it largely depends on government subsidies because solar power is still up to eight times more expensive than conventional forms of power like coal and gas.

You need to take up cost accounting to wrap your head around the problem . You have a liberals mind when it comes to running a business.A big ZERO Just close your eyes,click your heels 3 times and you are in Kansas.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Europe is by far the world's biggest market for solar power yet it largely depends on government subsidies because solar power is still up to eight times more expensive than conventional forms of power like coal and gas.

You need to take up cost accounting to wrap your head around the problem . You have a liberals mind when it comes to running a business.A big ZERO Just close your eyes,click your heels 3 times and you are in Kansas.

I'll ask again since you didn't answer the question the first time. What energy production hasn't benefited from government subsidies?

It's irrational to continue b!tching about renewables as relying on subsidies when that's been the case for all our energy. And you wanna know why? Because energy is part of national security. It's why we'll go to war over oil and why we continue to have a military presence in oil producing countries. In fact, if you were to factor in the actual costs of securing all these foreign supplies of oil, it would be by far the most expensive energy source. Renewables are the future, whether you can accept that reality or not, and they will depend on subsidies to help us make the transition away from fossils. It's called foresight.

Edited December 31, 2011 by Mister Fancypants

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Let me kill this thread....

Goooo Solar!!!! Celebrate energy diversity.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

*** One post removed for profanity/ personal attack, and one for quoting same. Relevant part of quoting post returned below. Stay civil to eachother- discuss the issues, not eachother! ****

http://www.windcoali...rgy-comparisons

[one...two...tree 2,762]

*** One post removed for profanity/ personal attack, and one for quoting same. Relevant part of quoting post returned below. Stay civil to eachother- discuss the issues, not eachother! ****

You removed the relevant part.

Paul made the claim that Texas doesn't rely on subsidies for their energy, and this was my response:

Oh really?

While some may complain that the cost of wind is impacted by the Production Tax Credit (PTC), 1.9 cents per kWh, the fact is every energy source in America benefits from some form of taxpayer investment - whether tax credits, direct subsidies, or federal research expenditures. The Texas Comptroller estimates that for every dollar wind power receives in States and Local subsidies, oil and gas receives $95. In 2006, Non-renewable energy sources (Coal, Oil & Gas, and Nuclear) received $7.4B in Federal Subsidies. Wind energy received a small fraction of total federal subsidies, 3.4%. Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Account, The Energy Report, May 2008

http://www.windcoali...rgy-comparisons

[Ban Hammer 13,406]

Just close your eyes,click your heels 3 times and you are in Kansas.

hey it works!

[Susita 175]

Isn't it funny how there seems to be a crowd of naysayers against renewable energy in this country? The excuses they come up with are irrational and emotionally charged.

This always has baffled me.