German PV feed-in tariff to decrease by 15 percent in 2012
- Matthias Kurth, President of the German Federal Network Agency: 5.200 MW of PV installed in Germany during the last 12 months
The German Federal Network Agency has published the new feed-in tariffs (FiT) that will be effective by January 1st, 2012. Electricity produced by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in 2012 will be remunerated in a range of 17.94 Eurocent to 24.43 Eurocent (USD 0.25 to USD 0.35), depending on size and location.
"During the last 12 months an additional new capacity of approximately 5.200 megawatts (MW) has been registered. This figure results in a 15 % lower remuneration compared to the actual FiT for systems connected to the grid beginning January 1st, 2012," said Matthias Kurth, President of the German Federal Network Agency.
PV growth slowed down, variable cap takes effect
"The added capacity of 5.200 MW is considerably below the 7.800 MW during the reference period from October 2009 to September 2010. The mechanism of the variable cap intended to limit the cost of PV development of course accounts in part for this change."
The Federal Network Agency calculates the FiT and its ongoing degression rates according to the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG). The feed-in tariff system is based on a PV growth corridor with a variable ("breathing") cap depending on actual new installations.
2012 degression totaling 15 %
From October 1st, 2010 to September 30th, 2011 an additional capacity of 4.500 MW has been reported to the Federal Network Agency, which is above the growth corridor's threshold. Thus the scheduled FiT will decrease by an additional six percentage points, resulting in a total 15 % degression.
Given an additional installed capacity of more than 5.500 MW, degression would have reached 18 %. And a maximum degression of 24 % would have resulted from an additional new capacity of more than 7.500 MW.
3.400 MW installed by Q3
According to the figures reported by PV system operators the new installed capacity in 2011 totals 3.400 MW through the third quarter. Figures for Q4 2011 cannot be estimated, the Network Agency notes.
2011-10-28| Courtesy: German Federal Network Agency | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH
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