Record-Breaking German Solar Demand Fuels Green Job Growth

Berlin/Munich (ots) - Germany's solar photovoltaic (PV) industry
now employs more workers than steel production in the USA. With over
100,000 "green jobs" in PV alone, around 75 percent of European solar
cells and modules as well as countless components are made in
Germany. Record-breaking domestic demand is a key industry driver,
with 7.4 GWp of PV capacity installed in 2010. Germany is also a
manufacturing platform for other European PV markets: Italy's feed-
in tariff revisions take effect this month and include a Made in
Europe clause, which is set to benefit manufacturers based in
Germany. Germany Trade & Invest will have representatives on hand at
the 2011 Intersolar Europe in Munich from June 8 - 10 to share the
latest market and industry trends in Germany.

"Germany continues to confirm its leadership role in renewable
energies as the solar photovoltaic market will soon enter the grid
parity era. Political support for solar power is unwavering and
industry players are already preparing for innovative new business
models. Now is an excellent time to invest in Germany," said Thomas
Grigoleit, renewable energies expert at Germany Trade & Invest in
Berlin.

Germany represents the top solar industry cluster worldwide, with
strong representation covering the entire value chain. Nearly half of
all inverters produced worldwide are made in Germany and the country
is an indispensable supplier of high quality system components like
mounting systems and module components like solar glass.

As the cost of generating solar energy continues to decrease,
Germany's industry is set to benefit. Demand is expected to remain
high as the domestic market shifts. With a self-sustaining grid
parity market on the horizon, opportunities for investment will arise
in fields like energy storage, energy management technologies such as
smart homes and grids, as well as new business models for energy
consumption, contracting and financing. Manufacturers and suppliers
as well as project planners and service providers are drawn to the
German market to gain crucial first-mover experience.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment
promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization
advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities
in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to
German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Contact:
Germany Trade & Invest
Andreas Bilfinger
Email: andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com
T: +49(0)30 200099-173
F: +49(0)30 200099-111