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.

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