PV Industry

• Nº 1 worldwide with 3.8 GWp of newly installed PV power in 2009

• Nº 1 worldwide with 42% (9.8 GWp) of cumulated global installed capacity in 2009

• EUR 8.6 billion turnover of PV manufacturers (silicon, wafer, cell, module) and EUR 2 billion turnover of PV equipment suppliers in 2009

• EUR 1.76 billion of net investments in the production sector in 2009

• 64,600 employees in 2009

MARKET - Our market's main driver is the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which guarantees owners of PV installations a fixed feed-in tariff for 20 years: 25.02 – 34.05 €c/kWh for installations connected between July 1 and October 1 and 24.26 – 33.03 €c/kWh for those connected during the remainder of the year. Higher incomes can be secured by taking advantage of the “own consumption bonus.” For rooftop systems smaller than 500 kWp this bonus is paid for electricity generated for own consumption.

The largest segment by far is made up of systems below 100 kWp with 67 percent of installed capacity in 2009. These are mostly rooftop systems owned by private users who overwhelmingly prefer high-quality systems. Manufacturers in Germany benefit from the "Made in Germany" quality guarantee and from easy access to other emerging markets in Europe.

INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE - A dense network of experienced PV equipment suppliers ensures a fast and stable ramp-up of production and swift market entry.

PERSONNEL - Germany offers stable wages, high productivity, and a large pool of experienced, highly trained, and flexible workers. More than  240 university degrees with strong focus on renewable energies are offered, and one of 10 engineering graduates works in the renewables field.

R&D - A dense network of outstanding R&D institutes and universities creates ideal conditions for companies to advance their technologies and production processes. Close cooperation between manufacturers, suppliers, universities, and research institutes helps companies develop new technologies and products and bring them to market quickly.

INCENTIVES - Germany offers numerous incentives for all investors - regardless of whether they are from Germany or otherwise. There is a large selection of programs designed to support a wide variety of business activities at different stages of the investment process available. Support ranges from cash incentives for the reimbursement of direct investment costs to incentives for labor and research and development (R&D).

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE - We offer an extensive and comprehensive logistics infrastructure that integrates state-of-the-art transportation networks with the most modern telematics, IT, and telecommunications systems.

STABLE INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT - Social, economic, and political stability provide a solid base for your corporate projects. Our judiciary and civil services are highly professional. Contractual agreements are secure, and intellectual property is strictly protected in Germany.