Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG in German) is a major benefit to producers of renewable energies equipment. According to the law, owners of renewable energies systems receive "feed-in tariffs," sometimes twice the retail market price, when energy from their systems is sold to utility companies. The law guarantees this price for twenty years, and is enticing homeowners, businesses, and non-profit organizations to invest in renewable energies equipment.

Germany is also optimizing its legal regime to provide a framework for the country to meet its goals regarding renewable energies by 2020. It wants to be the number one country worldwide in renewable energies, a worldwide market share of over 20%, domestic investments of at least EUR200 billion, and exports of over EUR80 billion. The solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and energy efficiency sectors will benefit from this strategy.

There is more to Germany's success story than simply smart policies. Germany has a network of scientific institutes and universities that works closely with industry to develop the latest technologies in renewable energies. The German government is also committing EUR15 billion through 2009 for research and development projects.

Germany's favorable legal regime and its workforce are two reasons that its renewable energies industry brought in nearly EUR23 billion in revenues in 2006, earned an estimated EUR6 billion in exports, as well as EUR9 billion in domestic investments.

The country's stellar infrastructure and geographic proximity in the middle of Europe make Germany an attractive location for renewable energies. Therefore a number of North American industry leaders, such as General Electric, First Solar, Nanosolar, and Arise have locations in Germany.

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