simple facts
(2023 figures, source: BSW Solar, Uva, ageib)
Number of solar arrays installed: 3.7 million
Total installed capacity: 81GWp
output: 61TWh
Expected expansion: 215GWp in 2030
Share of total power generation: 11.9%
employment: 58,500 (estimated for 2021)
output
Despite being one of the countries with the least amount of sunshine, Germany is one of the world's largest producers of solar power. After several years of leading the field, the country was ranked fifth in the world in terms of installed capacity in the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) global rankings in 2021. As of the end of 2023, the country boasted approximately 61 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, according to . Based on figures from solar power industry association BSW Solar.
In contrast to the traditional energy system centered on large, centralized producers, tens of thousands of small-scale solar panel operators have become an important part of Germany's energy system. In 2023, all solar power producers together produced about 12 percent of the country's net electricity consumption, and the total share of renewable electricity reached 52 percent. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global share of solar power generation in power generation in 2022 was approximately 4.5%.
Solar arrays could bring a much larger share to Germany's electricity mix, especially during sunny hours. On July 7, 2023, solar power will reach its highest output ever in Germany, accounting for 68 percent of the total electricity mix around noon, when both solar intensity and electricity consumption are typically at their peak levels. supplied. According to research institute Fraunhofer ISE, solar power output totaled 9 terawatt hours (TWh) through June 2023. Total production in the same year was 61TWh.
The high power output during both the short term around noon and the long term in summer is offset by the conversely low or non-existent output in winter and at night, respectively, highlighting the need for reliable storage techniques to complement it. Masu. Expanding renewable energy. However, sunny skies and high temperatures do not automatically lead to increased solar power output. This is because at high temperatures, solar modules lose their electrical tension and their capacity decreases despite the increased radiation.
According to Fraunhofer ISE, in Germany, solar panels achieve up to 980 full-load hours per year, which is around 10% of the year and less than half of what wind power can supply. become. Researchers estimate that in this country a full load time of 1,030 hours is possible. However, this is much lower than the approximately 6,600 full-load hours he said the lignite plant operated in 2016.
Adding capacity also helps prevent fluctuations in solar power generation levels due to weather effects. Although the summer was relatively cloudy, thanks to capacity expansion, solar power installations from January to August 2021 produced almost the same amount of electricity as the previous year, which had sunny skies.
