Germany Surpasses 100 GW in Solar Power Capacity by End of 2024 solar energy

Germany’s solar power capacity has officially surpassed 100 gigawatts (GW) for the first time, representing approximately 14% of the nation’s electricity consumption, according to the German Solar Association (BSW). This milestone reflects strong growth, with around one million new photovoltaic systems installed in 2024, contributing a combined peak output of 17 GW—10% more than the 15.4 GW added in 2023.

The increase in capacity was driven primarily by ground-mounted solar parks, which saw a 40% year-on-year growth. Additionally, the demand for plug-in solar devices, or “balcony power plants,” continued to rise sharply, with newly installed capacity doubling compared to the previous year.

Germany has set an ambitious target to meet 80% of its electricity demand through renewable energy by 2030. To achieve this, the country needs to install an additional 145 GW of wind energy and 215 GW of solar energy.

Carsten Koernig, managing director of the BSW, expressed optimism that with continued growth at similar rates in the next two years, Germany will be on track to meet its targets. However, he cautioned that achieving future energy transition milestones is not guaranteed. He stressed the importance of maintaining "an attractive and reliable regulatory framework" from the incoming federal government to ensure progress.