German PV industry business expectations high – survey

Germany’s solar industry continues to have a largely positive outlook and assessment of the current business climate in the sector, shows the German Solar Association’s (BSW) third-quarter industry barometer. Solar industry order books are currently well filled, the BSW report shows. More than half of solar companies surveyed by the association said the PV business climate is very good, and two thirds expect further improvement in the coming six months. More than half (55 percent) of the companies surveyed have expanded their staff in recent months to meet the growing demand. The companies stated that above all, rising electricity costs as well as initial improvements in the political framework conditions contributed to the current business revival.

Expanding renewables-based power from wind and solar parks is key for Germany’s energy transition and its broader move to climate neutrality. Installations of new solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Germany rose 21 percent in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period in 2021, said BSW. The government intends to triple the solar share of German power consumption over the next seven years from around 10 percent at present to just under 30 percent, said the association. "In such a short time, this can only succeed if further market barriers are removed very quickly and consistently and investment conditions are further improved," said BSW managing director Carsten Körnig.