2023 was already considered a record year for photovoltaic expansion. Over one million photovoltaic systems and more than 500,000 storage systems were installed, according to the German Solar Industry Association. These are important steps in terms of the energy transition target. After all, a quarter of Germany's electricity needs are to be covered by photovoltaic power by 2030.
For this to succeed, growing environmental awareness, government guidelines and technological advances must be coordinated. A total of 81.4 GW of photovoltaic capacity is installed in Germany. An expansion to 215 GW is necessary to achieve the target. A high target that requires land, investment and people. According to the BMWK, 84,100 people were working in the solar industry in Germany in 2022. In 2011, there were almost twice as many. After the sharp market slump in the 2010s, the industry is slowly recovering.
However, the international stage has not stood still in recent years. New photovoltaic capacity installed worldwide rose by an average of 40 percent per year between 2020 and 2023. According to Bloomberg NEF 2023, this amounted to around 400 gigawatts of capacity alone. Falling module prices are one of the factors contributing to this. In many countries, PV energy is by far one of the cheapest forms of electricity supply. Germany has long since ceded its pioneering role to China. With 250 GW of newly installed capacity, the country is now responsible for 60 percent of global photovoltaic growth. With a total output of over 660 GW, China has left the number 2 in the table, the USA with 169 GW, far behind. Germany has slipped to 5th place.
The growing demand for PV systems
But more important than rankings and comparisons is the potential that our country has to offer. Without having to come into conflict with agriculture or nature conservation, as often proclaimed by critics, Germany could easily achieve the expansion target, emphasizes the report "Current Facts on Photovoltaics" by the Fraunhofer Institute. In the building sector alone, there is the technical potential for 1000 GW. Only ten percent of the roof potential is currently being used. Innovations are increasingly making it possible to convert existing and challenging buildings to renewable energy sources safely and sustainably. There is therefore economic development potential in this field, from which the economy, the labor market and ultimately the people will benefit.
The decisive role of high-quality assembly systems
Photovoltaic systems are a long-term investment. They should work as smoothly as possible for at least 20 years on the roof or as a ground-mounted system exposed to wind and weather. At the same time, they are expected to generate energy with maximum output. As users, we want to be able to rely on this. It is therefore not only the module and storage solutions that are constantly evolving, becoming more efficient and safer. A lot is also happening on the PV market in the area of substructures.
This is also necessary. With further expansion in Germany and other countries, the focus is also shifting to surfaces and roofs that pose particular challenges. Substructures must protect the surface and the roof and at the same time help to ensure the safety of the installation teams. At the same time, the core tasks must not take a back seat:
- Structural integrity: A stable and durable mounting system is critical to withstand the forces of wind, snow and other environmental factors.
- Increased energy yield: A correctly installed mounting system can optimize the energy output of a PV system by ensuring optimal alignment and tilt of the photovoltaic modules. This can lead to increased energy production and a better return on investment.
- Increased safety: A well-designed installation system is crucial for the safety of both installers and building users.
Our teams work every day to test our solutions and improve them based on customer feedback and our experience. It is no coincidence that our PMT EVO 2.0, PMT EVO 2.1 and PMT X118 solutions have received general building authority approval. In this way, we are helping to ensure that the industry can continue to develop in a sustainable direction.
