By Renewable Energy Focus staff
The total for the year reached 7.25 GWp with 242,893 solar PV systems installed in 2010, according to figures from the Federal Network Agency. This is equivalent to a year-on-year growth of 91%.
“These figures are not a surprise,” comments Markus A. W. Hoehner, CEO of the Bonn-based market research and consulting firm EuPD Research. “Newly installed capacity is for the most part in line with our forecast.”
EuPD Research revised its forecast for solar PV in June from 5.5 GW to 7.2 GW.
Installed capacity according to system size
Solar PV systems between 10 and 30 kWp made up 26% of newly installed capacity making them the greatest contributor to growth in 2010.
Particular dynamic was observed in the mid- to large solar PV system segment between 100 and 500 kWp, which grew 174% year-on-year.
Regional installed capacity
Bavaria once again spearheaded growth in 2010 with an installed solar PV capacity of 2379 MWp, up a third on 2009. The state of Baden-Wuerttemberg came in second and North Rhine-Westphalia third.
Outlook for 2011
“The facts speak for continued growth in the German market,” says Markus Lohr, Analyst at EuPD Research. “Growth in most regions is, compared to that of previous years, over-proportional. Only some regions are showing symptoms of saturation.”
Although business was slow at the start of the year, the solar PV market is set to clearly pull forward in the coming months, as soon as prices have stabilised, the analyst predicts.
Furthermore, EuPD Research estimates that development in the German solar PV market is likely to be somewhat dependent on the political decisions pending in Italy.
An additional effect is expected to stem from mid-year degression. As a peak in installed capacity expected in June will not be included in the calculations for the half-year degression, it is not to be assumed that this half-year degression will thwart the solar PV market significantly.
EuPD Research therefore anticipates further but more moderate growth in the German market for the year 2011.