International Project Development & Finance Update: German Federal Cabinet Publishes Delegated Legislation on Competitive Tenders for Ground-Mounted Solar Arrays

Summary: Under the Regulation Introducing Tenders for Financial Support of German Solar Arrays as well as Amending other Regulations Aimed at Promoting Renewable Energies (Verordnung zur Einführung von Ausschreibungen der finanziellen Förderung für Freiflächenanlagen sowie zur Änderung weiterer Verordnungen zur Förderung der erneuerbaren Energien—“Solar Tender Regulation”) passed this week by the German Federal Cabinet (Bundeskabinett), the German Federal Grid Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) is tasked with holding three tenders per year for ground-mounted solar arrays: one in April, August and December each. The 2015 tenders will cover a total nominal output of 500 MW (150 MW/150 MW/200 MW), and the tenders in 2016 and 2017 will be for a total of 400 MW (125 MW/125 MW/150 MW) and 300 MW (100 MW each), respectively. Amounts not tendered in any particular tender and amounts not built within the relevant deadlines will be carried forward to future tenders. Requests for tenders will be published on the German Federal Grid Agency website no later than six weeks, and no earlier than nine weeks, prior to each tender deadline. Bidders can thus expect the first request for tenders for solar arrays to be published between the second full week of February 2015 and the first week of March 2015 for the first tender deadline on April 15, 2015.