German photovoltaic powerhouse slashed

Could Germany's budget crisis be a death knell for solar?

REUTERS/Lukas Barth/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights BERLIN, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Germany's budget crisis is threatening planned government support for its domestic solar manufacturers, in what could prove to be the death knell for an industry that was once world-leading but got undercut by cheaper Chinese imports.

What happened to Germany's solar industry?

That made renewables more expensive, and the industry collapsed. Seventy thousand people in Germany's solar industry lost their jobs, and Heckert found itself one of the only manufacturers left in this once-popular renewable energy park known as Saxony's Solar Valley. KRAUTWURST: And so the industry moved from Germany to Asia.

Will Germany ease bureaucratic hurdles for solar power?

Germany’s energy minister has announced plans to ease bureaucratic hurdles for solar power installations. Europe’s biggest economy set a new record for photovoltaic installations during the first quarter, adding 2.7 gigawatts of solar power capacity. Germany is making it easier to install solar power.

Are Germany's solar power booms causing labor shortages?

The solar power industry in Germany is experiencing severe labor shortages as the sector has seen a boom this year, according to Elstermann from Schneider Electric. Such is the case despite the industry's growth, with the maker of the solar power system, Smartflower, reporting a doubling of its business in Germany this year due to increased demand following the invasion of Ukraine.

How much power will Germany get from photovoltaic power?

As part of its push to move away from dependence on Russian natural gas, the European Union is looking to quadruple the amount of power generated through photovoltaic sources by 2030, to 600 gigawatts. Germany aims to reach a third of that amount by the same year.

Why did Germany become a leader in solar power?

Germany was once a leader in solar power, enjoying a large share of the world's total solar capacities for many years. A lot of that early success had to do with innovative government support.