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Please read some of the abridgements of recent articles about EuPD Research. You also have the option to read the complete articles online. In order to do so, please select "world wide web" and we direct you to the respective source.
Please note that not all of these articles are available in English.

12.06.2008, Handelsblatt

Handelsblatt reports:
Despite high investments, solar companies earn well
The German photovoltaic industry reacted with relief to the newly agreed subsidies for solar electricity plants. The companies believe that they will still be able to offer competitive solar electricity by 2015. Critics say that sinking prices, achieved due to productivity improvements during manufacture, are not being passed on to the customer. The industry retorts that the high revenues should be reinvested and that this reinvestment has led to many new factories, mainly in eastern Germany. A report by the University of Munich and the market research institute EuPD Research assumes that the German solar cell production of 1.7 gigawatts in 2007 will increase to 4.5 gigawatts by 2010. The German photovoltaic industry is threatened by competition, mainly from China. As the technology is not supported with subsidies there, the bulk of the production quantities end up in Germany.

02.06.2008, Handelsblatt

Handelsblatt reports:
The sun is rising on eastern Germany
The booming photovoltaic industry has created more than 7,000 jobs over the last ten years in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Brandenburg, thus becoming the most important industry alongside the chemical, optical and microelectric branches, writes the Handelsblatt. The eastern German solar industry manufactures around 80 percent of all German solar cells, and even 20 percent of the global total. Volker Ruhl, an expert from the market researcher EuPD Research, sees an above average growth for photovoltaics in the east of the country in the future too. By 2020, the employment figures in the whole of Germany could rise from the current 41,000 to 90,000 jobs, Ruhl continues. In eastern Germany, the industry profits from the tradition of the semi-conductor industry on the one hand, and on the other the regions receive large subsidies from the EU and German government, which help the companies who settle in the area. The future outlook for eastern Germany looks good too, Ruhl is quoted as saying. In order to compete with companies from China and other parts of Asia, many German companies are expanding their capacities.

13.05.2008, Badische Zeitung

Badische Zeitung reports:
Political will necessary
The two research institutes, IFO and EuPD Research, assume that the photovoltaic industry can continue to grow strongly – and that the German economy can profit from this. However, the future development of the industry mainly relies on political goodwill, writes the Badische Zeitung. The site appraisal of photovoltaics in Germany, put together by the two institutes, reckons that the industry turnover will double by 2010. In addition, the investments could grow from 1.5 billion Euros at present to 2.5 billion Euros, a large proportion of which will go towards expanding production capacity in Germany. The industry association BSW Solar estimates that the industry can achieve the turnover and export volumes of the aerospace industry. However, the BSW also warns that state-funded subsidies should not be reduced too fast or too far, as this could lead to a break in the growth of employment and turnover, reports the Badische Zeitung.

07.05.2008, focus.de

focus.de reports:
Golden brainwaves
The management of ideas is still underdeveloped in many German companies, reports focus.de, based on the “Ideas Management 2007/08“ study by EuPD Research. According to the study, a fifth of the 505 companies in Germany with the highest revenue are still neglecting their ideas management. Often, the problem does not lie with employees, but rather with managers and supervisors, who do not value the ideas from their own workforce. This is despite the fact that experts are convinced that doing so makes a company more successful. Every Euro invested in the management of ideas has a tenfold return on average.

22.02.2008, Energética XXI

Energética XXI reports:
The Spanish photovoltaic market - study sheds light in the semidarkness
"The new study 'The Spanish Photovoltaic Market 2007/2008', published by EuPD Research, explores the second largest European photovoltaic market for the third time", reports the Spanish magazine Energética XXI in the special issue for the Genera in February 2008. In addition to the current social, economic and political conditions, the study highlights the development and market segmentation for the years from 2007 to 2010. Furthermore, the study focuses on the distribution of PV products in Spain. One characteristic is that the lion’s share of the interviewed Spanish installers purchase PV modules and inverters directly from the manufacturers. In contrast to the situation in Germany, the PV wholesalers in Spain are less important. It is predicted that 30 percent of the modules produced by Spanish manufacturers will be exported by 2010, but the Energética XXI goes on to say that by this stage the principal consumer will be Italy and not Germany.

01.02.2008, IKZ-Energy

IKZ-Energy writes:
Germany remains in the leading position
2007 could prove to be another record year for the photovoltaic industry in Germany, the journal IKZ-Energy quotes from the current EuPD Research study, “The German Photovoltaic Market 2007/2008“. The market research institute from Bonn expects an installed capacity of 1.5 GW. Approximately two-thirds of this will be installed on the roofs of private customers. The quality of the products is especially important for the customer, while the significance of environmental protection takes a back seat. EuPD Research forecasts a growth in turnover of 39 percent compared to the previous year for the German photovoltaic industry. IKZ-Energy further reports that business abroad will continue to gain importance in the years up to 2020.

19.12.2007, Die ZEIT

Die ZEIT writes:
Countdown for solar energy
In order to continue to reduce costs, the solar industry is focusing on capacity expansion, technological improvement of the production process and a lower consumption of silicon, reported the weekly Die ZEIT newspaper on December 19th. The newspaper quotes the first extracts from the report “Appraisal of Germany as a Location for Photovoltaics” by the market research institute EuPD Research by saying that the domestic industry wants to triple production potential in the next three years. According to an appraisal by the Ministry of the Environment, German solar companies will invest a total of 36 billion Euros up to the year 2020.

14.12.2007, Berliner Zeitung

Berliner Zeitung reports:
Black clouds block the sun
According to experts, the German photovoltaic market will continue to increase rapidly, wrote the Berliner Zeitung on December 14th. The newspaper quotes the first results of the “Appraisal of Germany as a Location for Photovoltaics” by the Bonn-based market research institute EuPD Research and says that the domestic industry will triple production potential in the next three years. However, it is exactly this growth that is Conergy’s biggest problem, writes the Berliner newspaper. Ammer’s predecessor, the founder of Conergy Hans-Martin Rüter, wanted too much at once. He invested in sales and distribution and in a solar factory in Frankfurt/Oder, but failed to pay enough attention to the supplies for the running of the business.

30.11.2007, VDI Nachrichten

VDI Nachrichten writes:
Solar industry wants to increase production
Everything points to further growth, writes the VDI Nachrichten. The industry will triple domestic manufacturing capacity in the next three years. By 2010, the industry as a whole will be investing 2.6 billion Euros for the development and expansion of production sites, which represents an increase of one billion Euros in comparison to 2007. At the same time, the manufacturers estimate that they will derive half their turnover from export quantities, quotes the newspaper from the first results of the “Appraisal of Germany as a Location for Photovoltaics” by the EuPD Research Institute in Bonn. The expected publication of the study will be in January 2008.

26.11.2007, The Wirtschaftswoche

The Wirtschaftswoche writes:
I can see something you can’t see
Employees with wise ideas to develop products and processes are able to profit twice, as on the one hand their career benefits and on the other they can earn bonuses, writes the Wirtschaftswoche in reference to the current study “Ideas Management 2007/2008” by the market research institute EuPD Research in Bonn. The management of ideas often fails because of the reluctance of the executives. The Wirtschaftswoche refers to the current study by EuPD Research, which explores the quality of the management of ideas in the 505 German companies with the highest turnover.

23.11.2007, Offenbacher-Post

Offenbacher-Post reports:
Sunny times for the employment market too
According to an article in the Offenbach-Post an annual growth of 30 percent is forecast in the solar industry up to the year 2020. It is expected that the domestic manufacturing capacity will triple during the next three years, and an export quota of 50 percent is aspired to. The newspaper quotes Volker Ruhl, a project manager at market research institute EuPD Research, as saying “Germany is one of the international technology leaders for solar cells“.

14.11.2007, Focus Money

Focus Money writes:
Free of fire
The solar market is growing ever faster and the industry continuously exceeds even the most optimistic forecasts, according to an article in Focus Money. Q-Cells chief executive Anton Milner expects an annual growth of four percent, the article goes on to report. According to new forecast released by EuPD Research, in the year 2006 new plants with a capacity between 750 MW and one GW were connected to the grid in Germany. In 2007 up to 1.5 GW is possible, the magazine quotes from the current EuPD Research study “The German Photovoltaic Market 2007/2008“.

20.10.2007, Stuttgarter Zeitung

Stuttgarter Zeitung writes:
Knowledge management encourages innovations
Among the 20 most commendable manufacturing companies surveyed, the automobile producer Daimler places first followed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Unilever. In case of service enterprises, Deutsche Post takes the lead ahead of SAP and mail order company Otto, the Stuttgarter Zeitung quotes the current EuPD Research survey “Gesundheitsmanagement 2007/08“ (DE) on health management. Strongly differing services are offered by companies to their employees, Stuttgarter Zeitung continues. As examples being especially innovative, EuPD Research highlighted the free lunch at SAP, meditation exercises in Unilever offices or MVV Energie’s “Bear’s den”, an office for parents and their children.

15.10.2007, Photon

Photon writes:
Germany remains at record level
Germany remains the biggest photovoltaic market of the world, the trade magazine Photon quotes the current EuPD Research study „The German Photovoltaic Market 2007/2008 – From Sales to Strategic Marketing“. Amongst others, the market research institute traces the continuously high growth to the feed-in tariff degression that is scheduled for 2009 according to the Renewable Energy Act, Photon continues. The institute assumed that the further market development was determined by three factors: the system price, the client’s demand of returns as well as the amount of remuneration for feeding-in electricity.

10.10.2007, it-business.de

it-business.de writes:
Investments into the advertisement medium Internet are worth it
Investments into the advertisement medium Internet are worth it The increasing number of online shoppers is mentioned by market researchers and associations as a reason for the willingness to advertize online, the Internet portal it-business.de writes in October. Corresponding to the survey »eCommerce 2007« conducted by online payment service provider Paypal and the market research institute EuPD Research, all online shops increased gains in comparison to 2006: Big well-known, smaller hardly known as well as foreign shops. Rather unknown shopping portals were posting a disproportionate growth of 22.1 percent.

01.04.2007, Handelsblatt

Handelsblatt writes:
Stay healthy and fit your daily tasks
What is the best insurance to remain as long as possible fit for the working live? Ergonomic office chairs, canteen food especially for employees with heart diseases and free massages during lunch break – fair enough. A manager, allowing his employees to schedule their work autonomously, is crucial fort he job fitness, at the latest, the Handelsblatt writes with reference to the EuPD Research study "Gesundheitsmanagement 2006/07". To be allowed to individually schedule the timing, order and method of work, not only motivates employees: It keeps them young and productive for a longer term, too. This has been made out by the Finnish labor scientist Juhani Ilmarinen with long-term tests of employees working in factory buildings, bus companies and offices. The director of the Finnish Institute for Occupational Health was even able to prove empirically: The only factor, extending the working ability significantly, is good personnel management. Executives disposing of common sense have to examine their employees and to talk with them – to be able to help in case of emerging problems.

23.03.2007, Sonne, Wind und Wärme

Sonne, Wind und Wärme writes:
PV Promotion “Conto Energia“ in Italy
The Conference of the States and the Regions in Italy adopted the new solar promotion law “Conto Energia”, reports the journal “Sonne, Wind und Wärme” under reference to the Europressedienst. As a result, the nominal target for the promotion has been altered to 3 GWp to be reached by 2016. According to the new regulator GSE, 7.9 MWp have been installed and connected up to now – instead of the previously announced 6.1 MWp. The new arrangement refrains from the hitherto existing promotion along system output. In fact, it provides a mixed promotion, related to system type and system output. Since February 23rd, 2007, the law is in force. Whereas with the old system, all systems from 20 to 50 kWp have been promoted, the current focus is on small PV plants with a maximum output of three kWp. In the best case, these systems obtain 49 Cent/kWh – when they are evaluated as fully integrated. To achieve this, various possibilities are specified by the law. They have in common that a module has to replace a building component, e.g. a part of the rooftop, a balustrade for balconies, or a sun protection. If the module is solely mounted on the rooftop, the installation counts as semi-integrated and the feed-in tariff declines to 44 Cent/kWh. But for semi-integrated PV plants as well, strict regulations were set: for instance, the modules are not to be erected. The Italian photovoltaic association Gruppo Imprese Fotovoltaiche Italiane (Gifi) prompted the government to define the differences between full and semi-integration further. Open space plants larger than 20 kWp are the least promoted installations, as they obtain a feed-in tariff of 36 Cent/kWh. The Conto Energia refers only to photovoltaic power plants.

28.02.2007, Sonnenseite

Sonnenseite writes:
Export becomes the economic motor of the German solar industry
German solar technique increasingly develops into an export hit, reports the Internet portal Sonnenseite of Franz Alt. According to indications of the German Solar Industry Association (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft e.V./BSW), German photovoltaic companies had quintupled their export sales of 190 million Euros up to about one billion Euros within the last three years. This can mainly be traced back to the market and technology leading position of the German solar industry and the worldwide awakening awareness for climate, environment and energy supply guarantee issues, explains the BSW. As results of the BSW report – commissioned to EuPD Research – point out, the export rate of PV manufacturers will raise from currently 35 percent up to 40 percent. In his export forecast, the economic association expects for the coming year an export sales increase of over 50 percent up to 1.5 billion Euros.

01.02.2007, personalmagazin

personalmagazin writes:
Companies prohibit smoking
Periodical smoking breaks, reduced productivity and higher susceptibility for diseases in case of smokers have negative economical effects on enterprises, according to the February edition of personalmagazin. Like the current EuPD Research study Gesundheitsmanagement 2006/07“ showed, 20 percent of smoking employees had to use the time clock before smoking breaks and rework afterwards. Circa 63 percent of the companies had established a general smoking ban on the company site and barely 86 percent would promote non-smoking by corresponding seminars or distribute nicotine patches. Some companies even offered a pecuniary incentive or an additional leave day.



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