London (Platts)--13Jun2007

German solar power investment is expected to grow threefold by volume in
2007, the German association of solar power (BSW-Solar) said Wednesday.
     BSW-Solar expects that investment volumes in the German solar sector are
to grow from Eur400 million ($430.87 million) in 2006 to Eur1.2 billion in
2007. 
     According to BSW-Solar, Germany already has the world's highest density
of production and research facilities in this sector and in 2007-08 the
association expects 15 solar power production facilities to be built in
Germany.
     Carsten Kornig, director of BSW-Solar, said: "The financial sector's
trust in the innovation and competitiveness of German solar companies is big
and just as important as a reliable political framework."
     The association said that "in the past year [2006] around 220,000 new
solar facilities worth Eur5 billion were installed in Germany. Additionally,
there were export revenues of about Eur1 billion."
     For 2007, BSW-Solar expects German solar technology to create an export
revenue of Eur1.5 billion.
     The association based its outlook on studies conducted by consultant
groups Ernest & Young and Roland Berger.