EUROPEAN SUN 2011

European markets: 3 “GW markets” and an all-time record for Italy
January 2012 (European Photovoltaic Industry Association)

"With almost 21 GW of grid connected PV installations in 2011 Europe has increased its cumulative capacity base by over 50%...mainly driven by 3 markets: Italy, Germany and France.

"Italy became for the first time the top PV market with 9 GW of newly connected systems in 2011 (compared to 2.3 GW in 2010)…[A] decree allowing for systems installed by the end of 2010 but connected by mid-2011 to benefit from the more advantageous 2010 Feed-in Tariffs (FiT)… allowed 3.5 GW of installations to benefit…[In] Germany, a very strong last quarter propelled total 2011 market growth to 7.5 GW…Unlike the previous year there was no reduction of the FiT in July…"

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"France saw 1.5 GW of new systems connected last year, mainly a result of installations done in 2010. Only less than 10% of this capacity was installed during 2011…[A] new support framework aims to limit the annual market size to 500 MW…The important FiT cuts and long grid connection lead times explain why new installations were at a poor level during 2011, whilst grid connections reached a record high of 1.5 GW in 2011.

"The UK also delivered a surprising development during 2011, reaching unprecedented growth of some 700 MW. In April 2010 a new FiT scheme was introduced and immediately followed by enthusiastic market development…Other key markets in Europe were Belgium (550 MW), Spain (400 MW), Slovakia (350 MW) and Greece (350 MW)…The Czech Republic, after 2 hectic years that saw PV installations reach 2 GW, has disappeared from the PV map…as a result of strong opposition from major stakeholders…"