Regulatory framework
In recent years, the introduction of photovoltaic technologies in Germany has been encouraged with attractive and calculable government-sponsored regulatory conditions. Since a well-developed power grid is already in place in Europe, the focus is on feeding the electricity generated into the grid and thus on grid-connected PV systems. In Germany, the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) guarantees operators a feed-in tariff fixed for 20 years and a purchase guarantee for the electricity produced.
This secures investments made in solar energies and has resulted in an enormous increase in the number of jobs in the industry. In order to build up grid-connected systems, it is also necessary to clearly regulate grid access and electricity transmission. German legislation guarantees priority grid access and priority for the transmission of electricity generated using renewable resources.
At the same time, the government is trying to limit the additional cost of photovoltaics funding for energy consumers. Reduction of solar funding in several steps of degression reflects the pricing of PV systems on the international market. It is expected that feed-in tariffs will be linked closer to market growth, price developments and the actual energy consumption in Germany.
