The German Solar Energy Association (BSW) said on Wednesday that the installation of solar roof systems in Germany this year has increased by 25% compared to 2019, and this trend seems to continue next year.

Carsten Körnig, managing director of BSW, said that the growth in the roof sector is not limited to the amount of photovoltaic installations.

“Whether it is solar cells, solar energy storage or solar thermal collectors-these aspects have completely exceeded our industry expectations this year,” Körnig said.

BSW pointed out that although the past year was also a challenging year for the German solar industry, the final result was gratifying due to the elimination of some market barriers. BSW emphasized that the growth of power generation from other energy sources in 2020 is hard to expect from photovoltaic power generation.

According to BSW’s preliminary annual report, almost 1 kWh of electricity consumption in Germany this year comes from solar energy. The industry association stated that although the German government’s goal is to double the installed capacity of solar power stations by the end of this decade, energy and climate researchers even believe it is necessary to triple it.

BSW pointed out that in addition to the increase in public climate awareness, the main driving forces behind the solar boom also include many consumers’ desire to be more energy independent, the price of solar technology has been drastically reduced, the subsidy conditions for the modernization of heating systems have become more favorable, and the promotion of electric vehicles The momentum of transformation is increasing.

The demand for solar technology in the heating sector has also increased after years of decline. BSW estimates that sales of solar heating systems will rebound by more than 25% in 2020. In the first three quarters, the number of applications for subsidies for solar heating systems recorded by the German Federal Economic Office has tripled over the same period last year.

Good growth conditions also give the solar industry full confidence in 2021 and the future legislative period. “We expect that the German government will reach an agreement with the European Union before the German parliamentary elections to significantly increase the climate goals and the pace of the solar energy process,” Körnig said. “By changing some energy policy levers, the installation speed can be doubled in time and subsidies can be reduced. Dependence.

“Even during the new crown pneumonia pandemic, private consumers and businesses still have an overwhelming willingness to invest.” He also emphasized that unless the German government helps address the growing demand next year, it will not only endanger the achievement of climate goals, but also Spread voter support.

BSW believes that to prevent a power generation gap, it is necessary to double to triple the annual photovoltaic capacity expansion rate. According to the association, “market researchers expect that as we implement existing decisions to phase out nuclear power and coal, and usher in foreseeable power demand growth, this will happen in just two to three years.” BSW cited The recent research results of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) indicate that the expansion of photovoltaic power generation determined by consumer behavior will have to accelerate to about 10 to 15 gigawatts per year in the near future to achieve the EU The climate goal currently proposed by the level is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 55% by 2030. BSW expects the market to grow by 4.6 to 4.8 GW in 2020, surpassing the approximately 3.8 GW in 2019.

BSW cited the results of a recent survey conducted by research company YouGov on behalf of BSW, emphasizing that “rapid and consistent implementation of scientific advice may be decisive for the success of various parties in the upcoming German parliamentary elections, not only in terms of health policy. And the same is true for climate policy.” Of the more than 2,000 survey respondents, nearly 75% said that from today’s perspective, climate policy may be very important to their election decisions (41%). ) Or important (32%) impact. BSW added, “Expanding the scale of solar and other renewable energy sources is considered the most important climate protection measure to date.”