Germany announces a new strategy for the development of solar energy

Robert Habeck, the German Minister of Economy and Climate Protection, has unveiled a fresh strategy geared towards the advancement of solar energy. This ambitious initiative aims to elevate the proportion of photovoltaic (PV) energy within the local energy mix.

The German authorities have set an ambitious goal to achieve 80% renewable energy in gross electricity consumption by 2030. In realizing this objective, photovoltaics (PV) will play a pivotal role with an anticipated installed capacity of 215 GW by that year.

Last year marked the installation of over 7 GW of PV capacity in Germany, and the target for this year is to reach 9 GW (with nearly 2.7 GW installed in the first quarter of 2023).

The newly proposed PV strategy outlines a plan to increase terrestrial PV systems by 11 GW annually from 2026 onward, mirroring the target for roof-mounted systems. The strategy also includes the promotion of PV installations on municipal building balconies.

Beyond just investments and capacity targets, the strategy emphasizes the development of skilled professionals for PV system production, design, installation, and maintenance. This will be achieved through an expansion of training programs and courses.

Robert Habeck, championing these efforts, stresses the importance of fully harnessing the potential of solar energy. As he points out, photovoltaics stands as one of the most cost-effective energy sources and will wield significant influence in the energy landscape of the future.

Notably, the energy storage market is also witnessing rapid growth in Germany. According to the German Solar Industry Association, 2022 saw the installation of 627,000 energy storage facilities, marking a 50% increase compared to 2021. This surge is particularly notable in the sector of PV systems with home energy storage.