Martin Günther | pixelio.de
Energy payback and efficiency » 23.05.2013
Solar – use it or lose it
Recently, a report about the energy payback of solar caused quite a splash. A comparison with efficiency levels shows how absurd the comparison was to begin with. The fact remains that there is an energy payback for PV, which cannot be said for allegedly "more efficient" fossil energy. read more »
Fraunhofer ISE
Photovoltaics » 22.05.2013
Energy payback of solar only now positive?
A report published by researchers at Stanford University seems to find that the solar sector has consumed more energy up to now that it has produced – and the breakthrough into positive territory on an annual basis is only just now occurring. What a misleading calculation! read more »
Gestore
Photovoltaics » 15.05.2013
Italy had 16.4 GW of PV at end of 2012
Italy's grid regulator has just published its official figures for PV in 2012 and puts the country in second place worldwide for installed capacity at roughly half the level of Germany – with twice as much as the US and Japan in third and fourth place, respectively. But in relative terms, Germany and Italy have a lot more PV. read more »
Foto: Siemens AG München/Berlin
Photovoltaics » 14.05.2013
More community solar
Yesterday, BayWa r.e., a developer of renewables projects, announced the completion of four photovoltaic arrays with a total capacity exceeding eight megawatts owned partly by communities. read more »
Foto: Aleo Solar
Energy democracy » 13.05.2013
Community ownership of 7.8 MW solar farm
At the beginning of the month, the largest solar project in Baden-Württemberg was connected to the grid. Its ownership structure is typical of such projects in Germany – and could serve as an example abroad. read more »
Solarworld AG
And almost everyone is unhappy » 09.05.2013
EU to impose import duties on Chinese products
Yesterday, the European Union indicated it may rule in favor of a coalition led by Germany's leading solar firm SolarWorld, which was seeking protection from unfair competition from Chinese firms. A large number of people and organizations within the EU are now voicing their dismay. read more »
Foto: Conergy
Solar feed-in tariffs » 02.05.2013
German PV drops to 15 cents max
Germany's Network Agency has announced that feed-in tariffs for solar will be reduced by 1.8 percent each month over the next three months because the country continues to install more solar than the target corridor allows. Nonetheless, the reductions themselves are actually lower because the market is in fact cooling-off. read more »
Foto: Thomas Köhler/photothek
Energy policy » 26.04.2013
Making feed-in tariffs future-proof
German Industry Minister Philipp Rösler has proposed a radical change to feed-in tariffs for solar (but not for other renewables). The idea is worth considering – it's the reasoning that's far from reality. read more »
Foto: BSW-Solar/SunTechnics
Power storage » 26.04.2013
Time for Germans to get smart
Germany has adopted new incentives for the storage of solar power. But German politicians continue to take the path of least resistance. Maybe we need to stop talking about storing excess renewable power and start talking about storing excess nuclear power. read more »
ISE, Dispatch
The policy starts on May 1 » 25.04.2013
German incentives for solar power storage
In light of the tremendous peak in solar power production that Germany already has, the country is looking for ways to smooth out the curve across the day. A new policy will help make battery storage more affordable – but the design is nonetheless not completely convincing. read more »
