Germany reaches milestone of 100 GW peak in solar capacity

Germany has achieved a significant milestone by reaching 100 gigawatts peak (GWp) of installed solar capacity around the turn of the year. This was reported by the Federal Association for Solar Energy (BSW).

In 2024, solar panels covered approximately 14% of Germany's total electricity consumption, up from 12% in 2023. During the past year, around 1 million solar installations were added, with a combined capacity of approximately 17 GWp.

Decline in consumer demand

This represents a growth of about 10% compared to the 15 GWp installed in 2023. A major contributor to this increase was a surge in installations during the final quarter, as Germany had lagged behind the previous year in terms of cumulative installed capacity through September.

The key drivers of this growth in 2024 were large-scale ground-mounted solar parks, which saw a 40% increase to 6.3 GWp. Solar rooftops for businesses also grew by 25%, reaching 3.6 GWp. For consumers, demand for balcony solar panels continued to rise, with the market volume doubling to 0.4 GWp. However, after several years of record-breaking growth, the expansion of residential solar systems slowed in 2024. According to extrapolated data from BNetzA, consumer demand for residential solar panels declined by about 15% to 6.7 GWp. BSW points out that this, coupled with a drop in solar panel prices last year, has caused challenges for many solar energy companies.

Faster expansion needed

"With market growth expected to continue at a similar pace over the next two years, we are entering the first 'straight line' phase," warns Carsten Körnig, Managing Director of the German Solar Energy Industry Association (BSW). "Reaching the next milestones of the energy transition is not guaranteed. The prerequisite for continued investment willingness is an attractive and reliable regulatory framework. This requires further political efforts. The construction of solar energy and energy storage systems is essential for ensuring future access to affordable electricity and addressing the costs of climate change. The next German government must, therefore, remove market barriers and create an attractive investment environment."

A YouGov survey commissioned by BSW shows that nearly two-thirds of Germans would like to see a faster expansion of solar energy technology. Respondents believe that political parties should focus on accelerating the rollout of solar panel installations and battery storage, for example, by reducing bureaucracy or providing suitable financing options. Support for this view is particularly strong among voters from CDU/CSU (71%), FDP (72%), SPD (73%), and the Greens (88%).

Source: Solarmagazine.nl