The German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) issued a warning on Friday, cautioning that proposed changes to Germany’s Energy Industry Act could slow photovoltaic (PV) expansion, especially for smaller commercial rooftop systems.
The amendments aim to control electricity peaks and prevent negative prices. A central point of concern for BSW-Solar is the proposed requirement for direct marketing of solar power starting from installations with a capacity of 25 kWp. Currently, this obligation only applies to installations above 100 kWp. The association argued that high direct marketing costs and a lack of digital infrastructure between marketers and grid operators could deter businesses from utilizing their rooftops for solar generation. According to BSW-Solar’s managing director, Carsten Koernig, “Direct marketing for small-scale solar is already challenging and hinders PV growth on medium-sized roofs.”
BSW-Solar called for a revision of the draft law to further support energy storage expansion, urging policymakers to remove bureaucratic obstacles to speed up storage development. Additionally, the government’s planned policy shift would halt support for new solar installations during periods of electricity oversupply, focusing instead on times of high demand—a measure BSW-Solar views as “understandable” and beneficial for peak smoothing and storage utilization.
Looking ahead, BSW-Solar anticipates adding about 15 GW of PV capacity in 2024, with the government targeting 22 GW annually from 2026.
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