As Demand Soars, More Than 3 Million PV Systems Installed in Germany

According to the latest data from the German photovoltaic association BSW-Solar, Germany has achieved an important milestone, with more than 3 million photovoltaic systems currently in operation. According to the association, the rooftop photovoltaic market in Germany is in strong demand and is expected to break through the 4 million mark as early as next year. Germany connected its three millionth photovoltaic system to the grid this week,

according to BSW-Solar. The German Solar Energy Industry Association expects the country to break through the 4 million mark as early as next year, with nearly 350000 new photovoltaic systems added this year alone. At present, the total installed capacity of solar energy in Germany has exceeded 70 GW.

Homeowners are investing heavily in solar, with more than twice as many new photovoltaic systems installed in the first quarter of 2023 as in the same period last year. Carsten K Körnig, managing director of BSW Solar, attributed the 129% increase to the energy crisis and increased demand for solar technology under improved framework conditions. The popularity of plug-in solar modules

deployed on balconies is also on the rise, with more than 5 million households using solar systems on their roofs for power and heating. In addition, there are about 2.6 million solar heating systems in Germany, mainly for hot water supply and space heating in private households.

Germany exceeded its photovoltaic expansion target of 7 GW last year, so it seems that the country's 9 GW target set this year will also be achieved. However, the federal government is targeting 215 GW of installed PV capacity by 2030.

The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) said that according to linear extrapolation, about 1.56 GW of photovoltaic capacity would need to be added every month to achieve this goal. K Körnig stressed that in order to achieve ideal solar energy utilization, about 30% more solar power systems will need to be installed each year for the next four years than in the previous year.

The association's assessment shows that one third of Germany's photovoltaic capacity is installed in private and commercial buildings, as well as open land. The federal government plans to deploy half of the total target of 215 GW on rooftops and open spaces.