MUNICH, Germany — Despite the current crisis, the German photovoltaics industry sees a bright future. According to industry association BSW-Solar, most companies expect a significant uptrend beginning already in the near future.

At the opportunity of the launch of the Intersolar trade fair in Munich, the industry association published a poll among its member companies. The result: The sentiment is throughout positive. For the next years, most company expect strong market growth, driven by almost unbowed user demand, sinking selling prices for solar power equipment and a host of new support programs aiming at expanding solar power in ever more countries.

The sentiment index has reached its highest level since mid-2005, when the industry association started its polls. "After the gloomy first quarter, many companies see light at the end of the tunnel," explained BSW-Solar general manager Carsten König. "For 2009, we expect to reach the good results of 2008, perhaps best them slightly."

Since the start of the year, sales prices for turnkey solar power solutions have declined by 15 percent, the association has found. While normally vendors lament declining prices, the solar power industry hails the development since it will most likely stimulate buyer's interest. The disproportionate decline of the past few weeks is seen as a one-time effect triggered by the financial crisis and a temporary oversupply in the market. On the long run, the association expects the price to develop in parallel with the reduction of public funding.

The Intersolar trade fair appears widely unimpressed by the crisis. The exposition area has grown 30 percent over last year's event.

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