ENERGY EQUALS RETURN. GUARANTEED. BY THE STATE.
More electricity from light — thanks to the EEG
The German Renewable Energy Sources Act (German acronym: EEG) was put into place with the twin intention of ensuring the country's future energy needs and promoting the development of environmentally friendly technologies. It aims to increase the share of regenerative energy in total power supplies by the year 2020 to at least 30% and beyond thereafter.
The EEG first took effect on 1 April 2000. Since then, it has governed the obligation of energy suppliers (network operators) to accept electricity generated solely from renewables at fixed compensation rates. The law's most recent amendment took effect on 1 July 2009.
The German Renewable Energy Sources Act (German acronym: EEG) was put into place with the twin intention of ensuring the country's future energy needs and promoting the development of environmentally friendly technologies. It aims to increase the share of regenerative energy in total power supplies by the year 2020 to at least 30% and beyond thereafter.
The EEG first took effect on 1 April 2000. Since then, it has governed the obligation of energy suppliers (network operators) to accept electricity generated solely from renewables at fixed compensation rates. The law's most recent amendment took effect on 1 July 2009.
Twenty years of planning security
Reliable terms governing the use of the electricity generated are needed in order to be able to plan a solar power plant not just technically but also economically. The compensation provided under Germany's EEG since 2000 substantially exceeds the market price for electricity. The defined feed-in tariffs are fixed for the next 20 years — plus the year in which the relevant system is started up — thus ensuring certain and predictable returns in the long term.
Rapid decisions pay off
The EEG prescribes an annual degression of the feed-in tariff. Because the amount of the feed-in tariff in the year of the system's operational launch applies to the next 20 years, an early decision guarantees a higher return throughout its life cycle. Yet solar power installations will remain profitable in the future nonetheless — even if feed-in tariffs are lower — because reductions in manufacturing costs and improvements in the energy throughput as a result of new technologies will offset the decline in compensation.
2010 feed-in tariff
Guaranteed feed-in tariff (01 July - 30 September 2010):
* except areas of arable land
| Plant
size |
Integrated
plants (Roof/facade) |
Other free field plants |
Areas of land for alternative use |
| up to 30 kWp |
34.05 ct/kWh |
25.02 ct/kWh |
26.15 ct/kWh |
| up to 100 kWp |
32.39 ct/kWh |
25.02 ct/kWh |
26.15 ct/kWh |
| from 100 kWp |
30.65 ct/kWh |
25.02 ct/kWh |
26.15 ct/kWh |
| from 1,000 kWp |
25.55 ct/kWh |
25.02 ct/kWh |
26.15 ct/kWh |
* except areas of arable land
2010 feed-in tariff
Guaranteed feed-in tariff (01 October - 31 December 2010):
* except areas of arable land
| Plant
size |
Integrated
plants (Roof/facade) |
Other free field plants |
Areas of land for alternative use |
| up to 30 kWp |
33.03 ct/kWh |
24.26 ct/kWh |
25.37 ct/kWh |
| up to 100 kWp |
31.42 ct/kWh |
24.26 ct/kWh |
25.37 ct/kWh |
| from 100 kWp |
29.73 ct/kWh |
24.26 ct/kWh |
25.37 ct/kWh |
| from 1,000 kWp |
24.79 ct/kWh |
24.26 ct/kWh |
25.37 ct/kWh |
* except areas of arable land
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Renewable Energy Sources Act - subsidy model in pictures
Take a look at the government subsidies available. (0:32 min.)
