Newly installed capacity totalled 7.25 GW and an impressive 242,893 systems were installed in 2010 reaffirming Germany as the key sales market worldwide. “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, “ he confirms.
The Bonn market research institute revised its forecast in June from 5.5 GW to 7.2 GW. Systems between 10 and 30 kWp made up 26 percent of newly installed capacity making them the greatest contributor to growth in 2010. Particular dynamism was observed in the mid to large system segment between 100 and 500 kWp. This segment has, in contrast to the previous year, enjoyed growth of an impressive 174 percent.
Bavaria number one
Bavaria once again spearheaded growth in 2010 with an installed capacity of 2,379 MWP (+33 percent) clearly placing it ahead of all other states. The state of Baden-Wuerttemberg came in second and North Rhine-Westphalia third.
EuPD Research predicts that the German PV market will continue to grow in 2011, despite the announced cuts to feed-in tariffs later this year. “The facts speak for continued growth in the German market,” says Markus Lohr, analyst at EuPD Research. “Only some regions are showing symptoms of saturation,” comments Lohr. Although business was slow at the start of the year, the market is set to clearly pull forward in the coming months, as soon as prices have stabilised.
Furthermore, the market researchers estimate that development in the German 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 market significantly. Thus, EuPD Research anticipates further but more moderate growth in the German market for the year 2011.
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