By: Becca Roggenbuck Period: 8 Solar Energy in Germany

Solar Power Germany is the world leader in the production of solar power. At the end of 2010, it had an installed solar capacity of 17,193 MW. For comparison, Spain, in second place, had just 3,784 MW. Solar power system prices are expected to fall but the growth of the solar power systems is still expected to “stay strong” and continue to grow.

Top Companies Producing Solar Panels SMA Solar Technology AG- Germany’s largest solar panel producer and world’s largest producer of solar inverters, devices that convert the direct current from solar panels to alternating current used for power grids. SolarWorld AG- world’s largest producers of photovoltaic products (such as wafers or cells) and plans to increase overseas sales due to the decrease in the subsidy program for solar panels in Germany. Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG- is one of the world's leading suppliers of technology and equipment to the global photovoltaic industry. More than 90 per cent of its sales are generated abroad.

Solar Panels on Buildings

Amount of Solar Panels installed The original Solar Panel program that was launched in Germany was a 1000-roof program in the fall of The one-millionth-system mark was reached last year, only 11 years after the original program had started. The reduction in prices for the solar panels have occurred due to the technological advances and the mass production of the panels over the years.

Amount of Electricity Produced In 2011, solar power systems in Germany produced over 18 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. This would supply enough electricity for 5.1 million homes for an entire year, it also is equal to the electricity consumption of the state of Thuringia. German solar now contributes about 3% of total German electricity supply. That is expected to reach 10% by 2020.

Pictures of Thuringia and Solar Panels

Problems with Solar Energy The new, lower set of tariffs (15 percent drop) went into effect at the beginning of this month. That anticipated decline prompted developers to add 3 giggawatts in December alone. If the country installs 225 megawatts from January through April, the solar electric pricing is set to fall by another 15 percent. Solar manufactures also expect the impact of the solar market crash of 2011 — where solar panel prices fell around 40 percent as a result of an inventory pileup — to linger at least in early 2012.

Questions What percent of electricity do the solar panels add to the total amount of electricity produced in Germany? A. 15% B. 3% C. 6% The 1000-roof program was started in what year? A B C. 1990

Answers What percent of electricity do the solar panels add to the total amount of electricity produced in Germany? Answer: B. 3% The 1000-roof program was started in what year? Answer: C. 1990

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