German government drafts »PV strategy«

At the first »Photovoltaics Summit« held at the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), department head Robert Habeck officially presented the draft for a »Photovoltaics Strategy« to the invited representatives of industry associations and the German federal states on Friday (March 10). The event was preceded by the presentation of a »workshop report« on the status of the energy transition a day earlier. A »wind summit« is to follow on March 22.
The PV strategy outlines on 40 pages the ideas of the German government both to accelerate the addition of new plants and to promote the German and European solar industry. Comments can be submitted until March 24, and the »finalized« version is to be presented in May. The government intends to implement the measures contained therein in two legislative packages, Solar Package I and II. The German Solar Industry Association (BSW), said its chief executive Carsten Körnig, will »closely analyze the proposals and gratefully accepts the offer for further consultation.«
In accelerating the expansion of the country’s installed PV capacity, the focus in the short term is primarily on the goal of increasing annual additions to 22 gigawatts in 2026. In addition to a general improvement, for example, in the availability of land or the duration of approval procedures, quite specific proposals are formulated here, especially for rooftop systems.
For the strengthening of the domestic industry, the strategy contains targets that aim for a »significant« share of European-made products in all components of PV systems on the EU and world markets. In a »vision for photovoltaics in 2035«, Germany is in particular the »innovation leader in wafer processing and in plant and mechanical engineering. The focus here is on the development of high-performance cells with a tandem structure with silicon and perovskite.«
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