GERMANY'S SOLAR POWER UP

PLATTS - Germany added almost 3 GW of solar capacity last year, the highest annual figure since 2013 and 68% more than 2017, German solar association BSW said Thursday.

Total installed solar PV capacity was 45.929 GW by end-2018, with 377 MW added in December alone.

Solar growth remained below the boom years of 2010-2012 when Germany added 22 GW before sharp cuts to subsidies.

New additions come at a fraction of the cost, however, with sliding premiums falling below Eur50/MWh ($57/MWh) in the most recent competitive auctions for ground-based PV projects.

Some 1.9 GW of ground-based projects are to be tendered this year, assuming solar outbids onshore wind in the mixed technology auctions for 0.4 GW as last year.

The 4 GW extra solar to be tendered over the next three years are exempt from the 52 GW ceiling set by the government above which no subsidies will be paid.

Based on current trajectories, the ceiling could be hit in 2021.

The solar lobby has said the government should remove the ceiling and triple current annual growth targets to achieve the 2030 renewables targets in the light of the planned nuclear and coal phase-outs.

Solar panels generated a record 46 TWh in 2018, covering 8% of German electricity demand.

Operators also achieved higher capture prices due to rising outright power prices with the market value for solar averaging around Eur44/MWh, up by almost a third on 2017, TSO data showed.

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