Solar milestone: Germany surpasses 5 million solar installations

Germany is rapidly increasing its installed solar capacity. Installed capacity had already exceeded 100 GW at the start of the year. Now, solar installations in Germany have reached another milestone, with their number surpassing 5 million. More than one million new solar installations were installed last year alone, driven mainly by the recently popular balcony systems.

According to data from the German grid regulator (BNetzA), the total number of registered solar installations in Germany has exceeded 5 million. Their total capacity stands at 104 GW. More than one million new solar systems with a capacity of around 17 GW were installed last year alone.

38% of installations are on the roofs of private homes, 29% on commercial rooftops and 32% on open land. According to the German Solar Association (BSW), just under one percent have been installed on balconies.

Germany has made solar photovoltaics a key technology in its efforts to decarbonise its energy sector. The country aims to more than double solar capacity to 215 GW by 2030.

The rapid expansion of solar photovoltaics in Germany is raising concerns among energy companies about the impact of new installations on the power grid. It has also prompted transmission system operator 50Hertz to call for a more cautious approach to prevent negative effects on transmission and distribution networks.

“So far, it has been possible to manage both peaks in solar output and periods without sunshine without jeopardising system stability or security of supply. However, large price swings in both directions are a clear warning signal from the electricity market,” says Stefan Kapferer, chief executive of 50Hertz.

“In the next legislative term, we are also calling for a paradigm shift if the share of renewable energy continues to grow. The principle of ‘as much as possible, as quickly as possible and completely uncontrolled’ must be replaced by a grid-supportive approach. The current system of support for renewable energy rewards the highest possible electricity feed-in tariffs. In future, targeted incentives for development and planning that support the grid should be introduced,” Kapferer added.

Rapid growth in balcony solar systems

A sharp increase in the number of solar installations was recorded at the start of 2024. Around 1.25 million new systems were reported over a few months. The boom in balcony solar systems made a significant contribution, with more than half a million registered last year.

Balcony systems are especially popular with tenants and apartment owners, while homeowners usually opt for larger rooftop systems. Around 870,000 balcony solar installations are currently in operation. About 81,000 were newly registered in the first quarter of this year.