The German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) has stated that a proposal by Germany's Minister of Economics Philipp Rösler (Liberal Party, FDP) to limit solar photovoltaic (PV) subsidies will affect the transition of the energy system and especially the PV sector in Germany, jeopardizing more than 100,000 jobs.

"If the federal government implements Rösler's plans, the energy turnaround is doomed to fail. A powerful expansion of solar power's share to around ten percent of Germany's electricity mix by 2020 is essential for the successful transition of our energy system," BSW-Solar Chief Executive Carsten Koernig said on January 25th, 2011 in Berlin.

Federal minister of environment rejects PV cap, minister of economics calls for a fixed limit

Currently, PV represents approximately four percent of German electricity mix. According to the latest plans by Rösler it should be capped by cuts in funding to a maximum of five percent, representing 33 GW of installed capacity.

Federal Minister of the Environment Norbert Röttgen (Christian Democratic Party, CDU) does not accept this proposal. Instead he advocates for a monthly adjustment of the feed-in tariff (FIT), and rejects a cap.

According to solar industry stakeholders the Christian Democratic parliamentary working team also rejects a FIT cap. Results of negotiations between the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economics are expected in February 2012.

2012-01-26| Courtesy: BSW-Solar | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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