Spanish solar market in 2008 and exceed that of Germany, ranked first in Europe

Invest in Spain according to Spanish news 2009.04.15 page report, according to Gu DBK consultative survey report shows that in 2008 the volume of the Spanish solar power devices (including solar PV and thermal power generation) up to 2600MW, more than Germany, the EU's total device volume (4100MW) of 63%, ranking the first European Union.

2005-2008 solar power installations in Europe 4 times the amount of growth, with a total installed capacity of 9050MW; of which Germany accounted for 57%, the West accounted for 37% of the country, leading Italy, the Netherlands and France; In addition, in 2008 Germany West, the sum of the two devices EU's total volume ratio between the number of devices is as high as 95%; In addition, the European Union in 2008 solar energy generating capacity has reached 7.9 megawatts per hour (terawatt, TW), more 80 percent increase in 2007, since the 2006, generating capacity has grown 3 times.

Device is equipped with solar power generation is concerned, the European Union in 2007 production value of solar power generation device 10400000000 50 million euros, 120 percent growth in 2008, output value reached 23 billion euros; in accordance with DBK said the European Union in 2007 a total solar energy enterprises 8100, representing a 11 percent increase in 2006, most of which is located in Germany; In addition, the European Union in 2007 before the 24 largest suppliers of solar power generation device the total turnover of more than 100 million euros, of which six companies in Germany, five for the West State enterprises.

Feed-in tariffs in Spain, initiated in 2004 to reach the European Union’s goal of increasing renewable energy use to 20 percent by 2020, guarantee energy produced by from renewable resources will be bought by local utilities at three times the normal market value for 25 years. The Spanish utilities have the obligation of giving renewable energy companies a connection point to the grid.

these incentives have been instrumental for the growth of photovoltaic solar power plants in Spain, that is exceeding the government’s expectations. With the current momentum, Spain will be over its target for 2010 of 400 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) power by next summer. By that time, the actual installed capacity might be somewhere between 800 MW and 1,200 MW, according to the Ministry of Industry.

At 1,200 MW, PV power would still only account for 0.4 percent of total power, so there is still a long way to go. Another weak spot in the market is the low penetration of small installations in homes, with big plants - from one to 25 megawatts - being far more typical.

Industry Ministry officials said that once there are 1,200 MW of PV solar power, the tariff rate will be reduced by 5 percent each year. Investors and politicians are optimistic that in six years the incentives will no longer be necessary. Costs are expected to fall as competition spawns cheaper, more efficient solar technologies allowing firms in the sector to sustain themselves at normal market prices, they say.

But it is not just photovoltaics, the solar market is expanding accross the board. In the last months, we have seen a non-stop string of announcements of projects and deals:

Deals and solar plants:

Who: Sunpower Corp. (PV, US), with financing from AIG Financial products (US) and 360 Corporate (Spain)
What: 18-megawatt solar electric power plant
Where: Olivenza (Badajoz province, Extremadura)
Generation: more than 32 million kilowatt-hours of power per year

Who: ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (Montreal, Canada)
What: agreement to provide US$ 770,284 in solar modules to Tejasol (Spain) in Spain, with a view to open offices in Madrid and pending orders amounting to US$ 18.5 million.

Who: Solel Solar Systems (Israel) and Sacyr-Vallehermoso Group (Spain)
What: agreement to build three solar thermal power plants
Total capacity: 150MW
Investment: US$890 million

Who: Solar parks of Extremadura, formed by Ecoenergías (Spain) and Deutsche Bank (Germany)
What: 40 MW solar plant by the name of Merida Solar 2008
Investment: 300 million euros (430.6 million dollars)
Generation: 72,3 GWh per year (for the needs of around 80,000 people, approx.)
Where: Valverde (Extremadura)

Who: City Solar (PV, Germany)
What: Three solar plants with a total nominal power of 26 MW between them
Where: Castile-La Mancha and Extremadura

Manufacturing plant openings and expansions

Who: Schott (solar panels and solar receivers, Germany)
What: a manufacturing facility for solar receivers (their second in Spain)
Where: Seville (Southern Spain)
Investment: approximately $28 million

Who: Conergy (PV, Germany)
What: solar PV structures manufacturing plant
Where: Daganzo (Madrid)

Who: SolFocus (Concentrating photovoltaics, US)
What: European Headquarters covering business development, marketing, engineering, R&D and field work for the European markets.
Where: Daganzo (Madrid)