The Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry reported that solar power was responsible for 10 percent of Germany’s total electricity production in May of this year. This is a 40 percent increase from the same month in 2011.

Experts say that the huge bump in solar production is the result of increased capacity in the last year year as well as an abundance of sunshine during May.

While some reports suggest that Germany’s grasp as number 1 in the solar market, this most recent information seems to contradict that.

Germany has aggressive clean energy policies and subsidies as well as a commitment to abandon nuclear energy all together. The country used solar energy for 30% of its overall energy demand last year.

German PV expert Tobias Homann said in a statement that “Germany’s decision to replace nuclear energy with other sources is proving to not only be possible, but is creating many valuable prospects for the renewables sector.” Homann went on to say that as the German solar market holds firm in development, it continues to attract investment from around the world.

An example of this is bSolar, a company that has opened a plant in Heilbronn. The plant will manufacture high-efficiency bifacial cells. Such an investment is proof that Germany continues to be top-dog in the worldwide solar PV marketplace.

“Germany is one of the largest producers of PV technology as well as the biggest consumer of per capita solar energy worldwide,” said Dr. Yossi Kofman, Co-founder and CEO of bSolar, in a statement distributed by Marketwatch.

Kofman said Germany is an “obvious” choice for international investors thanks to “strong demand partnered with a highly skilled workforce, intensive R&D and a political framework supportive of renewables.”

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