Germany s Citizen Support for Solar Power

Who owns solar energy in Germany?

The share in solar PV is also high, where private individuals own 33 percent of installed systems, and farmers 16 percent. The energy cooperative is the most popular legal means of organising citizens’ energy and makes up more than half of Germany’s more than 1,700 projects. Each member of a cooperative has one vote.

Will Germany add more solar power?

Germany aims to reach a third of that amount by the same year. This year, Germany is expected to add more solar power capacity than any other European country, according to Rystad Energy.

Why is energy supply security important in Germany?

A survey by the Renewable Energies Agency (AEE) during the December 2022 energy crisis found that the need for energy supply security increased acceptance in the German population towards the expansion of renewables.

Does Germany have a solar mandate?

Solar Package I, approved in August 2023, aims to accelerate PV installation and enhance citizen participation, albeit, it is still under negotiation within the Parliament. While a solar mandate was considered, it was omitted in the final strategy. Yet, some German states have implemented their own mandates.

Are solar panels a good investment in Germany?

In the early 2000s, Germany encouraged people to install solar panels on the roofs of their homes by rewarding them with payments, known as feed-in tariffs, for sending energy to the grid. But those have become less lucrative in recent years, making such large-scale investments less attractive.

Does Germany have a legal framework for energy sharing?

In Germany, even though the governmental coalition agreement in 2022 established the clear purpose to provide a legal framework favourable for energy sharing, so far no concrete measures have been adopted to date and still relies only on local self-consumption approaches without energy sharing or connection to the grid.