Germany to add record 17.5 GW of solar this year. Grid problems loom as capacity grows

Germany is expected to add a record 17.5 GW of new installed solar power capacity this year, more than 2 GW above last year. But as installed capacity grows, so do the challenges of managing the electricity grid during hours when generation exceeds consumption. The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) is therefore proposing that new installations temporarily be subject to limits on the power they can feed into the grid. 

Solar power development in Germany is continuing at a strong pace this year and, according to the international news site Clean Energy Wire, if the BDEW forecast is met, total installed capacity of these sources will approach the 100 GW mark.

The expansion of solar power is also increasing the share of electricity generated from renewable sources in Germany, which stands at around 60% for the first 11 months of this year. Solar power alone has so far accounted for around 16% of Germany's electricity generation this year.

The BDEW described the continued expansion of solar power as welcome, but warned that the rapid growth of smaller installations could lead to increasing problems with managing the electricity grid in the future.

"Around half of the new capacity comes from installations with a capacity of less than 100 kW. Under the current legislative framework, these sources can feed electricity into the grid practically without any control, which is now becoming problematic during hours when more electricity is fed into the grid than it can absorb," said Kerstin Andreae, chair of the BDEW.

According to the BDEW, the situations described above are expected particularly in spring and summer next year, on sunny Sundays. The association says that even "perfect grid development" would not solve the problem.

The BDEW proposes temporarily limiting the power that new installations can feed into the grid to 50% of their potential output. This would remain in place until distribution system operators are able to manage generation from smaller solar power plants as well.

 "If this is not introduced in time, the new government could inherit chaos," the BDEW added.

Solar power is considered one of the key technologies that will help Germany meet its target of renewables accounting for 80% of gross electricity consumption by 2030. Last year, renewables covered more than half of Germany's electricity consumption for the first time. They accounted for almost 60% in the first half of this year.