Solar boom in Germany: These circles are leading the way in solar expansion!

Solar boom in Germany: These circles are leading the way in solar expansion!

Amid the growing challenges of climate change, Germany has formulated ambitious goals for the expansion of renewable energies, particularly solar energy. We want to be climate neutral in this country by 2045, which requires a huge boost in solar output. According to current evaluations by CORRECTIVE and klimadashboard.de, solar output in Germany has almost doubled since 2021. The numbers speak for themselves: The Essen region has increased its solar output more than sixfold, followed by the Cochem-Zell district in Rhineland-Palatinate and Leipzig. This development shows how seriously the Federal Republic is taking ecological restructuring.

There are four districts in eastern Germany that, under ideal conditions, can generate up to 1 GW of electricity with their solar systems - enough to supply around 300,000 households with energy. The leading regions include Märkisch-Oderland, the Leipzig district as well as Ludwigslust-Parchim and the Mecklenburg Lake District. Here, ground-mounted systems account for up to 80% of solar output, which underlines that there is a flourishing supply in these areas.

The drivers of the solar boom

The boom in solar expansion that has been observed since 2021 is favored by various factors. With the abolition of the solar cap in 2020, solar subsidies were increased, which significantly stimulated the market. In addition, there has been a sales tax exemption for solar systems since 2021 and rising electricity prices as a result of the Ukraine conflict, which increased interest in an independent energy supply. In the reforms of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) of 2023, the expansion targets were raised to 80% renewables by 2030, and operators receive more money for the electricity they feed in.

But in order to achieve the climate goals, the pace of solar expansion must be further increased. Germany is currently aiming to reach a total capacity of 215 GW by 2030, but at the same time it also points out the challenge of having to deal with many hours of negative electricity prices - a sign that too much electricity is being produced, which often cannot be stored.

Storage capacities and challenges

Although Germany has already installed around 20 GWh of battery storage, the demand is 40-50 GWh and is estimated at 100-150 GWh by 2030. What is strange is that while most federal states responded to inquiries about their goals for solar expansion, no federal state mentioned specific goals for the required storage capacities. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg are noticeably quiet here, while North Rhine-Westphalia has already announced concrete steps to improve storage capacities.

The bureaucratic hurdles and technical questions associated with the market master data register, especially with regard to small systems, represent additional challenges. Storage systems are often viewed as potential disruptive factors in the power grid, while the regulations date back to the 1970s and 1980s and are no longer optimally tailored to current needs. A rethink in politics is necessary: ​​Instead of slowing down decentralized generation, the system must urgently be converted to the requirements of renewables and their storage.

Overall, the situation in Germany shows that commitment and flexibility are crucial to achieving climate goals. Photovoltaics will play a central role in this. By 2030, at least 80% of gross electricity consumption should come from renewable energy, with solar energy as one of the key players. The prospects for solar expansion are promising, but challenges remain, as current statistics show.

As well as Autarq reported, 14.6 GW of new solar systems were already installed in 2023, almost twice as much as in the previous year. A further 13 GW is also expected in 2024, as well as massive increases in the following years. So far, it has primarily been private households and companies that have made a significant contribution to the expansion and show that Germany has a good hand for the energy transition.

The ongoing energy transition is unmistakable and brings not only ecological advantages, but also economic opportunities. Meanwhile, renewable energy sources already generated 22.4% of gross final energy consumption, with a clear upward trend. The question remains how quickly Germany can overcome these challenges in order to achieve its goals in time.

For more information about the current situation of renewable energies in Germany, take a look at Federal Environment Agency, where you can find exciting statistics on electricity production and the goals for 2030.