Record in solar power
Solar expansion by 2030: Half is done
Millions of plants on roofs and fields produce solar power for consumers. But growth loses swing and China dominates on the market, while local companies slide into the bankruptcy.
The first half is done, the second could be difficult: the expansion of the solar energy specified in the Renewable Energy Act is well on schedule, but whether the boom continues has not yet been identified, the Federal Association of Solar Economy (BSW solar) warns. According to him, around 107.5 gigawatts of performance have now been installed, and 215 gigawatts are to be until 2030.
In private households and companies, electricity from solar energy from their own roof is becoming increasingly popular – for example for daily needs when cooking, washing and heating or charging electric cars. According to the association, the now almost 5.3 million photovoltaic systems on roofs, balconies, open spaces over parking spaces and sometimes even on waters are currently covering around 15 percent of the German electricity requirements.
Record in electricity feedback
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 59.5 million megawatt hours of electricity were fed into the network with the operation of photovoltaic systems. At that time that was 13.8 percent of domestic electricity production – a record. The number grows from year to year: in 2023, photovoltaics still identified 12 percent of the total electricity feed. Balcony power plants are not included, but they only play a tiny role in the feed -in feed.
“Over the past 25 years, photovoltaics have developed from an expensive satellite technology for the inexpensive power generation form on earth,” said BSW solar manager Carsten Körnig. But despite the current success report, he is concerned: recently the expansion of solar power generation slowed down. Therefore, his association sees the goal for 2030 and warns against reducing the pace.
Expansion stalls – “no self -run”
“The electricity requirement grows and the solarization of roofs, facades and open spaces must not let up. Half of the path is done, but the next stage is not a sure -fire success,” says Körnig. In his eyes, a stronger expansion of photovoltaics leads and do not save any way. “The current heat wave and increasing climate damage make it painful.”
For the association, the expansion of savings is in particular in the foreground “in order to systematically develop the full photovoltaic potential”. Around two million battery stores with a total capacity of around 20 gigawatt hours are currently in operation in Germany. By 2030, however, a storage capacity of around 100 to 150 gigawatt hours. In order to advance here, the building law privilege of battery stores provided for in the coalition agreement must come quickly.
Most systems come from China
The most important country of origin for photovoltaic systems in Germany remains undisputed China: According to the Federal Statistical Office, almost 86 percent of the systems imported to Germany came from the People’s Republic in 2024, which dominates the world market with inexpensive models.
The import value of photovoltaic systems was more than three times as high as exports from Germany, which last year collapsed by more than half to 510 million euros and mostly went to neighboring countries.
German solar industry under pressure
The production of solar modules in Germany also fell strongly. In 2024 it fell by 56 percent to a good 1.5 million. In the first quarter, the downward trend continued at a similarly rapid pace. The local production has been struggling for a long time, among other things because of the competition from China. For example, the German daughters of the Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger have only applied for bankruptcy in the recent past.
According to the market master data register of the Federal Network Agency, the majority of the systems and the installed performance in Germany also fall into the area of structural systems on or on roofs buildings and facades. Here, 4.2 million plants with around 71 gigawatts are registered as in operation. This is followed by – measured after performance – open space systems. There are almost 20,000 of them, but they come to almost 33 gigawatts. The more popular balcony power plants for consumers are much more common at a good one million, but because they are much weaker, they only come up with a performance of just under a gigawatt.
dpa
Source: Stern
