Will Germany Phase Out Solar Tariffs in 2012?
Greentech Media
Germany regularly cuts its feed-in tariffs for renewable energy. The cuts cause anxiety in the solar world, but generally don’t lead to a panic because of the measured, reasonable actions taken by the government and the fact that demand continues togrow in other parts of the world.
Think of it: solar is expected to grow 50 percent a year in the U.S. between 2008 and 2012. Utility-scale capacity in the U.S. sits at under 250 megawatts today:current contracts could boost it to 5 gigawatts in five years. OnlyFarmville grows faster.
Norbert Roettgen, Germany’s current environmental minister, said thisweek, however, that more cuts to Germany’s feed-in tariff are slated for 2011. And when pressed about whether he could guarantee that thesubsidies would continue in 2012, he gave a flat-out "no."
"We’re in talks with the [solar power] sector to come to a reasonable further development," Roettgen said, according to Reuters. "We should be able to come to a reasonable further development."
"Those who want renewable energy should keep in mind that there is a need for society’s acceptance of it," he added.
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