German solar tender to start no later than March

OREANDA-NEWS. Germany's first tender round for ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) installations will start in week 10 at the latest, the country's grid regulator Bnetza confirmed today.

The first deadline for tender submissions is set for 15 April. The tender needs to start at least six week ahead of the submission deadline, putting the latest possible launch at 4 March.

Bnetza also confirmed today that the first round of tenders will be held on the basis of a "pay-as-bid" system in which participants cannot change their initial bids.

Germany's cabinet on 28 January passed an implementation decree to pave the way for pilot tenders be held in 2015-17. Bnetza will hold three pilot tenders for ground-mounted PV installations each year over the period, with 500MW of capacity to be tendered this year, 400MW in 2016 and 300MW in 2017. A total of 150MW will be offered in the first tender round.

Bnetza will also test the uniform pricing system in at least one tender round, in which all accepted bids will be paid an equilibrium price.