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Feed-in tariffs in Germany

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Further information: Feed-in tariff and Financial incentives for photovoltaics
Feed-in tariff for rooftop solar PV
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Development of feed-in tariffs for small rooftop PV systems smaller than 10 kWp capacity since 2001 in ¢/kWh[1]: 62 

Feed-in electricity tariffs (FiT) have been introduced in Germany to encourage the use of new energy technologies such as wind power, biomass, hydropower, geothermal power and solar photovoltaics. Feed-in tariffs are a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies by providing them remuneration (a "tariff") above the retail or wholesale rates of electricity. The mechanism provides long-term security to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology.[2] Technologies such as wind power, for instance, are awarded a lower per-kWh price, while technologies such as solar PV and tidal power are offered a higher price, reflecting higher costs.

As of July 2014, feed-in tariffs range from 3.33 ¢/kWh (4.4 ¢/kWh) for hydropower facilities over 50 MW to 12.88 ¢/kWh (17.3 ¢/kWh) for solar installations on buildings up to 30 kWp and 19 ¢/kWh (25.5 ¢/kWh) for offshore wind.[3]

On 1 August 2014, a revised Renewable Energy Sources Act or EEG (2014) (colloquially called EEG 2.0) entered into force. The government will now stipulate specific deployment corridors to control the uptake of renewables and the feed-in tariffs themselves will be determined by auction.[4]: 7 

The aim is to meet Germany's renewable energy goals of 40 to 45% of electricity consumption in 2025 and 55% to 60% in 2035. The policy also aims to encourage the development of renewable technologies, reduce external costs, and increase security of energy supply.[5]

In the first half of 2014, 28.5% of gross electricity production in Germany came from renewable sources.[6] The Federal Environment Ministry estimated that renewables were to save 87 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2012. The average level of feed-in tariff was 9.53 ¢/kWh in 2005 (compared to an average cost of displaced energy of 4.7 ¢/kWh). In 2004, the total level of reallocated EEG surcharges was €2.4 billion, at a cost per consumer of 0.56 ¢/kWh (3% of household electricity costs).[5] By 2013, the figure had risen to €20.4 billion.[7] The tariffs are lowered every year to encourage more efficient production of renewable energy. By 2014, the EEG surcharge – which pays for the additional costs through feed-in tariffs – had increased to 6.24 ¢/kWh.[8] As of July 2014, the regular reductions (degressions) were 1.5% per year for electricity from onshore wind and 1% per month for electricity from photovoltaics.

The solar sector employed about 56,000 people in 2013, a strong decline from previous years, due to many insolvencies and business closures. Although most of the installed solar panels are nowadays imported from China, the Fraunhofer institute estimates, that only about 30% of the EEG apportionment outflows to China, while the rest is still spent domestically. The institute also predicts that Germany's solar manufacturing sector will improve its competitive situation in the future.[9]

Progression of solar PV FiTs before 2012

The feed-in tariff system has been modified frequently. The feed-in tariff, in force since 1 August 2004, was modified in 2008.[10] In view of the unexpectedly high growth rates, the depreciation was accelerated and a new category (>1000 kWp) was created with a lower tariff. The facade premium was abolished. In July 2010, the Renewable Energy Sources Act was again amended to reduce the tariffs by a further 16% in addition to the normal annual depreciation, as the prices for PV panels had dropped sharply in 2009.[11] Another modification of the EEG occurred in 2011, when part of the degression foreseen for 2012 was brought forward to mid-2011 as a response to unexpectedly high installations in the course of 2010.[12]

Feed-in tariffs for newly installed photovoltaic systems paid over 20 years [¢/kWh]
Type 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 July
2010		 October
2010		 2011 January
2012
Rooftop-mounted up to 30 kWp 57.40 54.53 51.80 49.21 46.75 43.01 39.14 34.05 33.03 28.74 24.43
above 30 kWp 54.60 51.87 49.28 46.82 44.48 40.91 37.23 32.39 31.42 27.33 23.23
above 100 kWp 54.00 51.30 48.74 46.30 43.99 39.58 35.23 30.65 29.73 25.86 21.98
above 1000 kWp 54.00 51.30 48.74 46.30 43.99 33.00 29.37 25.55 24.79 21.56 18.33
Ground-mounted conversion areas 45.70 43.40 40.60 37.96 35.49 31.94 28.43 26.16 25.37 22.07 18.76
agricultural fields 45.70 43.40 40.60 37.96 35.49 31.94 28.43 — — — —
other 45.70 43.40 40.60 37.96 35.49 31.94 28.43 25.02 24.26 21.11 17.94
Installations on agricultural fields were removed under the PV Act (2010).

The support duration is 20 years plus the year of project commissioning, constant remuneration. Feed-in tariffs was lowered repeatedly (decreasing by 9% default and a maximum of 24% per year). Degression will be accelerated or slowed down by three percentage points for every 1000 MWp/a divergence from the target of 3500 MWp/a.

Progression of Solar PV FiTs since 2012

As of July 2014, feed-in tariffs for photovoltaic systems range from 12.88 ¢/kWh for small roof-top system, down to 8.92 ¢/kWh for large utility scaled solar parks. Also, FiTs are restricted to PV system with a maximum capacity of 10 MWp. The feed-in tariff for solar PV is declining at a faster rate than for any other renewable technology.[13]

Feed-in tariffs for solar PV since April 2012 [¢/kWh][14]
Year Month Degression Rooftop mounted Ground mounted
up to 10 MWp
up to 10 kWp up to 40 kWp up to 1 MWp up to 10 MWp
2012 April — 19.50 18.50 16.50 13.50 13.50
May 1.0% 19.31 18.32 16.34 13.37 13.37
June 19.11 18.13 16.17 13.23 13.23
July 18.92 17.95 16.01 13.10 13.10
August 18.73 17.77 15.85 12.97 12.97
September 18.54 17.59 15.69 12.84 12.84
October 18.36 17.42 15.53 12.71 12.71
November 2.5% 17.90 16.98 15.15 12.39 12.39
December 17.45 16.56 14.77 12.08 12.08
2013 January 17.02 16.14 14.40 11.78 11.78
February 2.2% 16.64 15.79 14.08 11.52 11.52
March 16.28 15.44 13.77 11.27 11.27
April 15.92 15.10 13.47 11.02 11.02
May 1.8% 15.63 14.83 13.23 10.82 10.82
June 15.35 14.56 12.99 10.63 10.63
July 15.07 14.30 12.75 10.44 10.44
August 1.8% 14.80 14.04 12.52 10.25 10.25
September 14.54 13.79 12.30 10.06 10.06
October 14.27 13.54 12.08 9.88 9.88
November 1.4% 14.07 13.35 11.91 9.74 9.74
December 13.88 13.17 11.74 9.61 9.61
2014 January 13.68 12.98 11.58 9.47 9.47
February 1.0% 13.55 12.85 11.46 9.38 9.38
March 13.41 12.72 11.35 9.28 9.28
April 13.28 12.60 11.23 9.19 9.19
May 13.14 12.47 11.12 9.10 9.10
June 13.01 12.34 11.01 9.01 9.01
July 12.88 12.22 10.90 8.92 8.92
Maximum remuneration part[15] 100% 90% 90% 100% 100%

Renewable Energy Sources Act (2014)

Main article: German Renewable Energy Sources Act

On 1 August 2014, a revised Renewable Energy Sources Act entered into force. Specific deployment corridors now stipulate the extent to which renewable energy is to be expanded in the future and the funding rates (feed-in tariffs) gradually will no longer be fixed by the government, but will be determined by auction. Wind and solar power are to be targeted over hydro, gas (landfill gas, sewage gas, and mine gas), geothermal, and biomass. In late-2015, this new scheme is being tested, as a pilot project, for ground-mounted PV installations.[4] With the Renewable Energy Sources Act (2017), auctions will become commonplace for new installations also for most other types of renewables.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Annual Report 2014". International Energy Agency – Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS). 21 May 2015.
  2. ^ Policymaker's Guide to Feed-in Tariff Policies, U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab, www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/44849.pdf
  3. ^ German Energy Blog German Feed-in Tariffs 2014 (01-07)
  4. ^ a b Making a success of the energy transition: on the road to a secure, clean and affordable energy supply (PDF). Berlin, Germany: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). September 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  5. ^ a b HM Treasury (2006). Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change p. 367.
  6. ^ German Energy Blog BDEW: Renewables Account for Record 28.5% of Gross German Electricity Consumption in First Half of 2014, BDEW, [1] Erneuerbare Energien erreichen neuen Rekordwert
  7. ^ German Energy Blog Some More Figures on German EEG Renewables Generation, Revenues, Surcharge, Payments, and the Special Equalisation Scheme
  8. ^ German Energy Blog German Renewables Surcharge Increases by 19% to 6.24 ¢/kWh in 2014
  9. ^ Facts about solar PV (in German), pages 29-30
  10. ^ EEG 2009 modifications Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft. 2 Feb 2011.
  11. ^ EEG 2010 modifications Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft. 2 Feb 2011.
  12. ^ EEG 2011 modifications Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft. 2 Feb 2011.
  13. ^ Facts about solar PV (in German)
  14. ^ "Photovoltaikanlagen: Datenmeldungen sowie EEG-Vergütungssätze" [Monthly reported new installations of PV systems and current feed-in tariffs of the German Renewable Energy Act] (in German). Bundesnetzagentur. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  15. ^ Germany: feed-in tariffs 2013 (PDF). Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).[dead link]


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