Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen and Economy Minister Philip Roesler announced plans to cut premium rates for solar power by between 20 and 29 percent starting March 9 and continue to decrease them by .15 euro each month beginning in May.
This marks the largest subsidy reduction since 2004 when Germany first implemented a feed-in tariff that charges above market rates for solar power to support the solar industry. The results of issuing the feed-in tariff drastically exceeded targets and sparked a massive unexpected upsurge in solar installations.
Ministers Roettgen and Roesler recently announced the decision to slash subsidies to adjust to plummeting prices of solar panels and unanticipated rapid growth.
The draft agreement proposes reducing annual installations by about 60 to between 2.5 and 3.5 gigawatts for this year and the following, down from record installations of 7.5 gigawatts in 2011.
That's all for now,
Stephanie Ginter
Subscribe to