Germany’s Solar Power Output Rose By 60% in 2011

In 2011, 19.9% of Germany’s energy was generated from low-carbon sources, up from 16.4% in 2010.

Here’s a bit of good news for renewable energy from Germany. The German Solar Industry Association (BSW) says that the nation’s solar power producers have now produced 60% more electricity in 2011 than they did in all of 2010, producing 18 billion kWh. That’s very impressive growth.

19.9% of Germany’s energy was produced from low-carbon sources in 2011, up from 16.4% in 2010. Carsten Koernig, BSW’s managing director, stated that “solar energy has become an indispensable ingredient of a successful energy strategy shift.” The solar sector alone has produced enough electricity to power about 5.1 million homes. That’s about one-eighth of all homes in Germany.

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, some say that the solar sector’s production remains volatile and unsustainable, relying on a subsidy-driven situation. That leads to high costs for consumers. Koernig isn’t worried about that and says that the solar industry stands by its commitments to cut costs, which have already dropped by 50 percent since 2007. Lower costs and growth paint a nice picture for the country’s energy situation.