Cloudy Germany Unlikely Hotspot for Solar Power
The Environmental News Network references Germany as the world’s leader in solar power, despite clouds dominating the German sky for 2/3 of daylight hours. Germany generates 55% of the world’s photovoltaic (PV) power, but just 3% of Germany’s energy comes from the sun.
“There are now 250,000 jobs in Germany in the renewables energy sector. Frank Asbeck, chairman of SolarWorld AG, expects the number of jobs in solar power alone to double to 90,000 over the next five years and hit 200,000 in 2020.”
The increase of jobs in the environment is already a trend present in the U.S., and these additional employees will be needed if Germany plans to rely on renewable energy for 27% of its consumption by 2020. Germany’s policy is a guaranteed payment by the local power company for any home that generates electricity from solar PV, wind or hydro means.
