Germany's new PV strategy
Last Friday, the second "Photovoltaic Summit" took place in Berlin, at which the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, presented a comprehensive PV strategy for Germany. In order to achieve the goal of accelerating expansion, a package of measures in eleven fields of action was put together. The WWF's climate chief believes that some essential elements are missing.
"Photovoltaics is one of the cheapest energy sources of all and is one of the most important power generation sources of the future."
Federal Minister Habeck
"By 2030, the share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption should be 80 percent. With an installed capacity of 215 gigawatts by 2030, photovoltaics should make an important contribution here. This shows that we have a lot of work ahead of us. But we can see that the expansion is picking up. Last year, it was over 7 gigawatts. An interim target of 9 gigawatts has been set for the current year. There is a good chance that we will reach this interim target: almost 2.7 GW of new capacity was already installed in the first quarter of 2023.
With the strategy presented today, we want to significantly accelerate the expansion once again and remove all the brakes that have so far prevented a higher pace of expansion," said Habeck.
Viviane Raddatz, Climate Director of WWF Germany, criticizes: "In order to really ensure a rapid expansion of photovoltaics, a solar standard is needed, i.e. the mandatory installation of PV in all new buildings, as well as a gradual introduction in existing buildings. This is a missed opportunity to enshrine a central concern from the coalition agreement."
The measures of the PV strategy at a glance
- Facilitating the construction of ground-mounted systems through faster approval procedures and sufficient available areas
- Simplifications and improvements for PV systems on roofs in both the commercial and private sectors
- Introduction of a community building supply model
- Relief for balcony PV systems
- Connection to the electricity grid should be made easier
- Acceptance of the topic of PV systems should be improved to enable faster expansion
- Tax hurdles are to be removed
- European production of PV systems is to be boosted
- Securing the necessary skilled workers through training and further education and other incentives
- Promotion of research and technological development in this area
- Advancing the expansion at European policy level too
Further links
The BMWK's photovoltaic strategy as of 05.05.2023
