Convers Energie

Germany’s energy policy reversal

Mia — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:59:12 +0000

In an effort to limit solar capacity, the German parliament has approved controversial solar cuts, effective April 1 and as high as 29%, depending on PV installation size and type. While solar installations will still guarantee above-market rates for electricity generated by residential and commercial PV systems, for a locked-in 20 year period, solar PV tariffs will be reduced 20.2 – 29%, and starting July 1 will decrease by 1% per month. The German solar industry expects a surge in installations in the coming weeks, followed by a sharp downturn in autumn. The government policy change could cause significant job losses in the PV industry, as well as serious financial implications, including potential bankruptcies, for German PV manufacturers.

Solar PV: Germany should continue to invest in a sustainable energy future

The documentary Energiewende (“Energy policy change”), which aired on German TV channel ZDF on April 3, depicts the retrenchment of Germany’s current government from recent renewable energy policies (post-Fukushima), previously set by the current and past two governments, in favor of a policy supporting the big four German electricity companies.

Convers Energie Managing Director Gunther Nacke explains that solar PV has become a real threat to the utility giants in Germany, as they attempt to secure their market share in electricity production. All arguments for the change in government policy against solar PV are not truly relevant to the current energy debate. In particular, the cost argument that solar PV energy is too expensive is no longer germane. The question of whether it makes sense to continue allowing for large scale solar PV installation capacity in Germany is moot, as the costs of solar PV have already been distributed to the electricity consumer. In fact, solar power already makes electricity prices more competitive during daylight hours in Germany. In the future, there would be only a minimal extra load on electricity prices, no matter at what speed the PV-installation rate in Germany continues to grow.

The right thing to do would be to expand the electricity grid and develop electricity storage technology. In this sustainable scenario, solar PV has a strong role to play in Germany.

Convers Energie team installs over 130 kWp in March

Mia — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:26:28 +0000

The Convers Energie team has been working full speed since the beginning of March to beat the clock on the 31 March government deadline that could cut feed-in tariff rates by up to 30% in Germany. In a push to complete installations for as many customers as possible, the team installed a record 12 residential PV systems, plus one commercial solar installation, within four weeks.

A residential installation begins in Bonn

The monthly total kilowatt peak installed by Convers Energie in March exceeded 130 kWp. An average March installation rate would be 20-30 kilowatts.

Solar panels, ready to mount

During the day, Managing Director Gunther Nacke was on-site at each installation. While our team installed the mounting system and panels, Nacke prepared the cabling that would connect the installation to the grid.

Cutting cables

Nacke also kept an eye on financing, ordering, shipment and delivery of panels, assuring a smooth installation process for each customer. The post-installation process, including registration with the local utility company and the actual connection of the PV system to the grid by Nacke and a certified electrician, was the last step of each installation.

Securing the mounting system; beginning to place panels

New PV system homeowner takes a closer look

Despite the intensive schedule, the Convers Energie installation team enjoyed the warm weather and blue skies on a residential installation in Bonn in mid-March.

Klaus, Georg and Hans Dieter

To see more images of the team at work on “installation day,” visit our Facebook page. We will also be posting a short installation video soon.

A round of thanks to Georg, Hans Dieter, Klaus and Tibor for their hard work during March. Reaching 130 kWp was truly a team effort!

The competed installation

Convers Energie attends SunPower partners meeting

Mia — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 02:28:52 +0000

Last month, Managing Director Gunther Nacke met with SunPower’s national management team and authorized SunPower partners in Leverkusen for the company’s annual German partners meeting, held on February 15.

With a focus on industry trends, potential feed-in tariff cuts and SunPower market development strategy in Germany, the SunPower partners meeting was constructive and a great platform for partner feedback.

The day before, Nacke and Convers Energie guest David Mabille, Managing Director of Soleos Solar GmbH, joined an exclusive SunPower group of ticketholders in watching the Bayer Leverkusen-Barcelona football match on home turf, where Barcelona scored a 3-1 victory over the SunPower-sponsored team.

Immediately after the SunPower partners meeting, Nacke traveled to Fulda for a three-day industry conference. Organized annually by former SunTechniks partners, the informal solar PV alliance offered a series of valuable technical seminars on new PV installation requirements in Germany, networking events and tours of solar projects in the area.

In other news, Convers Energie has a full schedule of local installations in the upcoming weeks. We are also keeping our eye on the proposed German legislation to cut feed-in tariff rates. For more information on the German government proposal, visit our Facebook page.

Convers Energie gets into sporting spirit with SunPower

Mia — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:38:31 +0000

Convers Energie Managing Director Gunther Nacke met up with SunPower Germany on January 22nd to cheer on Bayer Leverkusen in a football match against Mainz.

View from SunPower's sky box

Watching the game from the SunPower sky box, Gunther was able to talk about industry trends with SunPower’s regional sales manager and other authorized SunPower partners. Bayer Leverkusen beat Mainz 3-2.

SunPower has signed on for the next 3 years as the official sponsor of the Leverkusen football team to demonstrate its commitment to the German market, the growth potential it foresees and an emphasis on top performance.

Leverkusen-Mainz match

Next up in the Champions League is the Leverkusen-Barcelona match on February 14th, which promises to be an exciting night of football and solar industry networking.