BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - The pace of new solar power installations in Germany is slowing down. According to calculations by the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar) based on Federal Network Agency data, newly installed capacity fell by 6 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. Total new capacity reached approximately 3.5 gigawatts of peak power.
The decline was particularly pronounced in the building sector. Newly installed peak capacity in the residential segment slumped by 21 percent to 0.85 gigawatts. In the commercial rooftop segment, which features larger installations, the drop was even steeper at 33 percent, falling to 0.6 gigawatts. Even the relatively small and affordable 'balcony power plants' showed signs of a slowdown, with new additions dipping by 6 percent to 0.09 gigawatts.
Growth in ground-mounted systems cushions the decline
The fact that the overall decline was not significantly sharper is due to strong growth in ground-mounted solar parks. While these typically consist of fewer but much larger facilities, their newly installed peak capacity rose by 20 percent to 1.97 gigawatts.
In light of the downturn, BSW-Solar is warning against further subsidy cuts. However, the association expects 'at least a slight recovery in demand in the coming weeks as a result of the recent energy crisis and due to pull-forward effects in anticipation of potential funding cuts.' Managing Director Carsten Körnig emphasized that this is no substitute for reliable investment conditions.
Körnig stated that the renewed energy crisis demonstrates the importance of making Germany less dependent on expensive energy imports through the accelerated expansion of renewables and storage. 'Anyone putting the brakes on solar energy now is damaging Germany as a business location and throttling the public's most popular tool for dampening energy prices,' he added./ruc/DP/zb
