The total output of all solar power systems installed in Germany exceeded the 100-gigawatt mark at the turn of the year. This is according to the latest projections by the German Solar Industry Association (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft, BSW-Solar) based on data from the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, BNetzA). In 2024, solar power plants covered around 14 percent of electricity consumption (2023: 12 percent).
Around 17 gigawatts newly installed
In 2024, around one million photovoltaic systems with a nominal output of around 17 gigawatts were installed on roofs and open spaces to generate electricity from sunlight. This means that the increase was around ten percent higher than in the previous year.
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Target by 2030: 215 gigawatts
By 2030, the installed photovoltaic capacity is to increase to 215 gigawatts, more than doubling, according to the legislator. “With sustained market growth at roughly the same rate, we are entering the home stretch,” predicts Carsten Körnig, managing director of the German Solar Industry Association. “However, achieving the next milestones in the energy transition is not a sure thing.”
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New government must act
A prerequisite for a corresponding willingness to invest is an attractive and reliable regulatory framework. Further political efforts are needed to achieve this. “The construction of solar plants and storage facilities is essential for the future supply of affordable electricity and for cushioning the costs of climate change,” warns Körnig. “The next federal government should reduce market barriers and ensure an attractive investment framework.”
Expansion of solar parks driven
The main drivers of growth in 2024 were solar parks built at ground level. They grew by around 40 percent to a total of 6.3 gigawatts compared to 2023. For systems on company roofs, the association expects an increase of around 25 percent to about 3.6 gigawatts.
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The demand for plug-in solar devices, known as balcony power plants, continued to boom. Their newly installed capacity doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year, to around 400 megawatts.
Fewer systems for homes
After several record years in a row, however, the growth of solar power systems on private homes slowed. Compared to the previous year, their newly installed capacity fell by around 15 percent (capacity class below 30 kilowatts: 6.7 gigawatts). In connection with the drop in prices of solar modules, this lull caused many solar companies problems. (hs/hcn)