2024-04-27 11:14:53
The solar package is coming. After being blocked for a long time, the traffic light coalition has reached an agreement in connection with the climate protection law. Today there will be a vote in the Bundestag. What’s inside?
Balcony power plants, tenant electricity and the use of open spaces: Solar Package I is due to pass the Bundestag and then the Bundesrat on Friday. The government’s plan is to advance the energy transition in Germany by simplifying access to solar energy. An overview:
Importance of solar energy in Germany
By 2030, 80 percent of Germany’s energy needs should come from renewable energies. An important pillar of this is solar energy, which is expected to contribute 215 gigawatts (GW) of electricity by the end of this decade. According to the federal government, over a million new systems with an output of 14.6 GW were installed last year – almost twice as many as in 2022. Last year, solar power accounted for almost twelve percent of the amount of electricity fed in.
More space for photovoltaic systems
The construction of roof systems on commercial buildings with an output of over 40 kilowatts should be more worthwhile in the future – the subsidy will be increased to 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour in response to increased construction costs. In addition, the quantities for photovoltaic umbrella tenders will be approximately doubled.
In addition, more areas should be released for solar parks. To this end, solar power plants on open spaces with an output of up to 50 megawatts will be eligible for funding; previously they were systems with a maximum of 20 megawatts.
Special solar systems
In the future, solar systems will increasingly be built on sealed areas such as parking lots. Agricultural land and moors should also be used more for energy production. In addition, mountain slopes should generally be available for solar systems.
The so-called special solar systems get their own sub-segment for tenders with the Federal Network Agency. The number of systems that are put out to tender in this area every year is gradually increasing to up to 2,075 megawatts.
Buying balcony power plants will be easier in the future
An important component of the solar package for consumers are the so-called balcony power plants, i.e. mini solar systems that do not take up much space and can be connected directly to the socket. The law stipulates that the previously complicated registration with the network operator is a thing of the past. In the future, consumers will only have to register the balcony power plant in a Federal Network Agency database.
In addition, old, non-digital electricity meters may continue to be used on a temporary basis. These then simply rotate backwards when electricity is fed into the grid from the balcony.
Tenant electricity and communal building supply
The passing on of solar power within a building to several private or commercial electricity consumers is likely to become more attractive with the new law, explains the Federal Association of the Solar Industry (BSW). Operators of photovoltaic systems can therefore provide their solar power to tenants in a barrier-free manner without becoming an energy supplier. This means, among other things, that they are not obliged to ensure a comprehensive supply of electricity to consumers.
At the same time, the solar package further optimizes the already established tenant electricity model by opening it up to supply commercial electricity consumers and reducing bureaucratic requirements.
No bonus for domestic industry
The Greens in particular had until recently advocated for a “resilience bonus” to promote the domestic solar industry. However, these additional subsidies did not make it into law, mainly due to resistance from the FDP.
Obligation to tolerate only on public areas
The solar package also comes with a so-called obligation to tolerate on public areas. Accordingly, operators of a solar system must be allowed onto public property in order to lay or maintain connection lines. In the government draft, this rule was also planned for agricultural areas. The German Farmers’ Association, however, massively criticized this plan. The BSW regrets: “A major option for accelerating and reducing costs for solar parks” remains unused.
EU emergency regulation
According to the draft law, the EU emergency regulation should also be implemented into national law and extended by one year until June 30, 2025. This means, for example, that approvals for wind turbines, solar systems and power grids can be issued more quickly.