Record-Breaking German Solar Demand Fuels Green Job Growth

BERLIN and MUNICH, Germany, June 7, 2011 -

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.

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

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