A success story of balcony power plants in Germany
Balcony power plants are booming in Germany like never before. by 2024, the number of systems will have doubled to over 780,000. New laws, falling prices and strong demand are driving this sustainable trend forward. Germany is thus becoming a pioneer in the use of plug-in solar devices.
In 2024, Germany experienced an impressive doubling of balcony power plants. According to the Federal Network Agency, over 780,000 systems are now registered, with a combined output of almost 0.7 gigawatts. The record figures from the previous year of over 430,000 new devices could rise even further due to late registrations. According to forecasts, the millionth balcony power plant could be installed as early as the first half of 2025.
Legislation and technology are fuelling development
The boom is being significantly supported by improved legislation. Since autumn 2023, landlords and flat owners have been obliged to approve the installation of balcony power plants. At the same time, falling prices and a larger selection of high-performance models have made it much easier to access your own solar energy. This makes it attractive for more and more people to make their own contribution to the energy transition.
Stability despite political uncertainties
Even a possible change of government after the general election is unlikely to halt the trend. According to Carsten Körnig, Managing Director of the German Solar Industry Association, there is a cross-party consensus to further improve the framework conditions for balcony power plants. Reducing bureaucracy and lowering costs remain key objectives in order to enable tenants and homeowners to play an active role in the energy transition.
Germany as an international role model
With over 780,000 systems, Germany is the leading market for balcony power plants. The German model is attracting international attention, as regulatory and technical standards here promote safe use. This success story could serve as inspiration for other countries to create their own framework conditions for the energy transition.
Regional differences in expansion
A look at the federal states reveals major differences in distribution. North Rhine-Westphalia leads the way with 157,000 installations, followed by Bavaria with 119,000, while Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg each have around 103,000 balcony power plants. At the lower end of the scale are the city states of Bremen and Hamburg as well as Saarland, each with fewer than 10,000 systems.