The installed photovoltaic capacity in Germany rose from 1.19 GW in Q2 2011, to hit 1.64 GW in Q3 2011. The number of installations, however fell from 56,587 to 56,324.
The new figures are an impressive increase on Q1 2011, which saw just 513 megawatts installed, or 11,937 systems. As such, for the year to date, Germanys newly added photovoltaic capacity is standing at 3.35 GW, or 125,848 systems.
Upward swing
According to Mercom Capital Group, in the 2012 feed-in tariff (FIT) reference period between October 2010 and September 2011, the country installed around 5.2 GW of photovoltaics, which has resulted in a 15 percent tariff cut, as it crossed the growth threshold of over 4.5 GW starting January 1, 2012.
In addition, it says the new German renewable energy law, EEG, introduced mid-year tariff cuts from 2012 onwards. The cut, effective on July 1, 2012, is based on annualized installations from October 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012, which could result in a further nine percent cut in 2012.
"There has been an upward swing in demand in the last few months and signs are that October was a strong month. With a 15 percent cut in FIT starting January 1, 2012, the market is expecting a ‘big rush' to install before the tariff cuts; therefore installations worth about six GW are expected in 2011," wrote Raj Prabhu.
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