Germany stands at fifth place in terms of solar energy capacity with 48.4 Gigawatt. Solar power accounts for 12.5 per cent of electricity generation, behind wind energy, contributed the most to the electric grid. With this in mind, I will explore the German government’s ambition and strategy to promote solar power and the projects launched in the country. The leading solar producers are actively involved in advancing solar power within the nation, and I will also identify three challenges that require overcoming.
Ambition:
Germany aims to generate about 80 per cent of its electricity from wind and solar by 2030, up from 42 per cent in 2022. Germany intends to install 250 Gigawatt of solar power by 2032. The solar energy ambitions are closely aligned with its broader energy transition goals, known as “Energiewende.” The country aims to phase out nuclear power and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels while increasing the share of renewable energy sources in its energy mix.
Solar Energy Projects:
- Weesow-Willmersdorf solar park is in Brandenburg. EnBW owns and is developing the project with an investment of €100 million. The construction started in March 2020 and completed in late 2020. It has a capacity of 187 Megawatt, generating 187 Gigawatt-hours annually, enough to power 50,000 households.
- Neuhardenberg Solar park is in Brandenburg. Danish Airport Development has spearheaded the development of this project, with a substantial investment of €280 million. The construction began in September 2012 and completed in January 2013. It has a capacity of 145 Megawatt, generating 19.69 million Kilowatt-hours annually and supplying 48,000 households.
- Templin Solar Park is in Brandenburg. It is owned by Commerz Real and developed by Belectric with an investment of €188 million. Construction commenced in June 2012 and finished in April 2013. It has a capacity of 128.5 Megawatt, generating 120 million Kilowatt-hours annually and supplying 36,000 households.
- Brandenburg-Briest solar park is in Brandenburg. It is owned by Luxcara and developed by Hanwha Q Cells with an investment of €123 million. It was built in a single phase and commissioned in December 2011. It has a capacity of 60 Megawatt, powering 14,835 households.
Top Solar Panel Producers:
- Alfa Solar GmbH, established in 2017, has its headquarters in Hannover.
- They produce solar panels with anti-glare and structured glass, enabling high efficiency. It offers services to residential and commercial buildings.
- AxSun Solar GmbH, founded in 2004, is headquartered in Laupheim-Baustetten. The solar panels are known for their high quality, good performance and long service life. They are for residences, commercial buildings, stables, barns and open-air facilities.
- Antec Solar, established in 2003, is headquartered in Arnstadt. They construct photovoltaic modules tailored to meet customer specifications, which are for building integrated photovoltaic systems.
- Solimpeks Solar GmbH, founded in 1973, is headquartered in Munich. It is one of the top producers of solar collectors and offers photovoltaic thermal systems, solar hybrid panels and thermosiphon systems.
- Calyxo GmbH, established in 2005, is located in Wolfen. They specialise in producing cadmium telluride thin-film solar modules and offer turnkey photovoltaic systems.
Challenges:
- The primary obstacle to scaling up solar power is the high number of approval processes and permits needed for projects. For instance, building solar parks requires approval from 30 government agencies.
- Another challenge is that the solar cells utilised in manufacturing solar panels are from China. The dependence on China will hinder Germany’s ability to reach its renewable energy targets.
- The third issue is the lack of skilled technicians and storage for storing excess electricity and using it later.
Conclusion:
In summary, Germany ranks fourth globally in solar energy capacity at 48.4 Gigawatts. Intending to reach 80% of electricity from wind and solar by 2030, the country has launched impressive projects like Weesow-Willmersdorf and Neuhardenberg solar parks. Leading producers like Alfa Solar GmbH and AxSun Solar GmbH drive innovation. Nonetheless, challenges such as complex approval processes, dependency on Chinese solar cell production, and a lack of skilled technicians and energy storage solutions pose significant obstacles. Overcoming these hurdles is imperative for Germany to achieve its renewable energy targets and solidify its position in solar power generation.
End Notes
https://www.solarfeeds.com/mag/top-10-country-uses-the-most-solar-energy/
https://www.power-technology.com/projects/xxl-weesow-willmersdorf-solar-park/
https://www.solarfeeds.com/mag/largest-solar-power-plants-in-germany/#google_vignette
https://www.power-technology.com/projects/neuhardenberg-solar-power-plant/
https://www.power-technology.com/projects/templin-solar-power-plant/
https://www.power-technology.com/marketdata/brandenburg-briest-solar-park-germany/
https://www.solarfeeds.com/mag/top-solar-manufacturers-in-germany/
https://www.renewable.news/renewables/solar/solar-energy-faces-numerous-challenges-in-germany/
