The move could form part of a major overhaul of German clean-energy policy that will be drawn up early next year, as the country raises its target for renewables’ share of power production by 5% to 40% by 2020.

Germany announced the 52GW PV cap in June, saying that after that point is reached support for new installations will cease – a move that followed political pressure to set a visible limit on the support the fast-growing technology could expect from the public purse.

Altmaier