New solar power plant capacity has fallen for the fifth month in a row. Additions for plants eligible for feed-in tariffs pursuant to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) amounted to 274.673 MWp in January 2013, the Federal Network Agency reported.
Though it may still be too early to speak of a lasting trend, the January figures seem to indicate that after three record years for new solar power plants (2012: 7,604 MWp; 2011: 7,485 MWp; 2010: 7,378 MWp) and various solar feed-in tariff cuts, solar growth is slowing down. The additions in January are below the figure for December 2012 (330.102 MWp) and much lower than the 516.582 MWp added in January 2012.
Yet 2010 [1] also only started with new capacity of 266.138 MWp and ended with a new record. Much will therefore depend on whether the renewed discussion [2] about an overhaul of the EEG and the feed-in tariff system will trigger more building activity to lock in the current feed-in tariffs (for the currently applicable rates, please click here [3]).
Based on the information published by BNetzA, the January 2013 capacity additions lead to the following table of German PV capacity eligible for financial support pursuant to the EEG.
| Year | Month | kWp | kWp |
| End of 2008 | 6,120,000 | ||
| Installed 2009 | 3,801,572 | ||
| End of 2009 | 9,921,572 | ||
| Installed 2010 | 7,377,678 | ||
| End of 2010 | 17,299,250 | ||
| Installed 2011 | 7,485,234 | ||
| End of 2011 | 24,784,484 | ||
| Installed 2012 | 7,604,142 | ||
| End of 2012 | 32,388,626 | ||
| 01/2013 | 274,673 | ||
| Installed 1/2013 | 274,673 | ||
| Total 31.01.2013 | 32.663,299 |
Source: Federal Network Agency [4]
Related posts:
- 7,604 MWp: Another Solar Record in 2012 Triggers 2.2% Feed-in Tariff Reduction From February [3]
- 435 MWp of New Solar Capacity in November 2012 – More Than 32 GWp Total [5]
- Almost 612 MWp of New Solar Capacity in October 2012 [6]
- BNetzA Announces 2.5% Degression of Solar Feed-in Tariffs for November to January [7]
- German feed-in tariffs 2012 [8]
- Reduced German solar feed-in tariffs [9]
- EEG Clearing Agency Advises on Grandfathering Clause for Solar Feed-in Tariffs [10]
- EEG Amendment Cutting Solar Tariffs Promulgated [11]
- Bundesrat Clears Reduced German Solar Feed-in Tariffs [9]
- 2.3 GWp of Newly Installed German PV Capacity by End of April 2012 [1]
- Bundestag Approved Mediation Committee Compromises for Solar FIT Reduction and CCS Bill [12]
- Mediation Committee Compromise for Solar Feed-in Tariff Reduction [13]