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A dramatic u-turn by German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been officially proclaimed with the announcement that all nuclear plants in the country will be shut down permanently by 2021. Initially, eight of Germany’s oldest nuclear plants will shut down immediately and the remaining plants will be phased out over the next 10 years. However, three plants could remain operational until 2022 to allow for the possibility of delays occurring in the addition of new energy sources - mainly renewables - as a replacement.
Investment bank, Jeffries has outlined key changes expected in a new Renewable Energy Legislation (EEG) draft set to be discussed by the German Government at a cabinet meeting to be held on June 6th. Amendments to the German EEG were not due to be debated by Parliament until September, according to the research note but go in hand with the cabinet meeting on proposed legislative changes that could see the phasing out of nuclear power.
A common criticism of installing PV systems, large and small in Greece has been the bureaucratic red tape that had cased many projects to be delayed by several years, limiting the appeal of the country’s FiT and resulting in a standstill for most projects. According to BSW-Solar and PV LEGAL, concerted efforts to unwind the red tape, have had some significant success recently.
Less than a week after the shock closure of the feed-in tariff scheme in New South Wales, the Government of Western Australia has cut the subsidy rate for new residential applications submitted after June 30. The state will also be subject to a cap on installations, putting a halt to progress just one year after the scheme was introduced.
Bulgaria’s solar industry is facing the threat of stagnation, after the Government unveiled a new renewable energy bill that could cut industry subsidies by as much as 30%. The feed-in tariff (FiT) reductions were part of a wider set of cuts to the renewable sector, which have been introduced to help the country meet its EU 2020 targets.
Following the recent news that the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, was to reduce the Solar Credits support multiplier from July 1, 2011 effectively ending the support program by July 2013, the New South Wales Government has now permanently closed the solar bonus scheme to new applicants. Adding insult to this injury, all existing feed-in tariff beneficiaries will also stand to lose out as the AUD$0.60/kWh rate is cut.
According to reports, the Chinese Government has increased the country’s target for PV installations from 5GW by 2015 to 10GW. Citing an official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the reports claim that the government has also increased installation targets for 2020 to have 50GW of PV installations, up from 20GW target previously planned.
Consultations and deliberations are now over as the Italian Council of Ministers signed on a new Conto Energia IV, effective on June 1, 2011. Since a review was announced the Italian market has effectively been frozen, especially for commercial and utility-scale projects, causing the PV supply chain to balloon with module inventory some market researchers have put at between 2-3GW. The situation was exacerbated by the slow start in PV installations in Germany this year.
Citing a rise in electricity prices for consumers as the adoption of solar in Australia has blossomed, the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, has reduced the Solar Credits support multiplier from 1 July 2011 to three, and to two on 1 July 2012. It will then be reduced to one on 1 July 2013, effectively ending the support program. Approximately 300MW has been installed since the Solar Credit support mechanism was introduced.
A long winter and weak demand following feed-in tariff cuts implemented at the beginning of the year could lead to statutory FiT cuts in June to be in the 3-6% range, according to Jeffries International. Official German EEG installations figures for January, 2011 highlight a 77% decline from installation figures for December 2010, with 95% of system installations below the 200kW class.
