Easier to create a balcony power plant: Bundestag approves solar package

Mini solar system on the balcony or photovoltaic system in an apartment building: The solar package is primarily intended to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. The Bundestag has approved the project and it is now due to pass the Bundesrat today.

The Bundestag has passed the so-called solar package. It contains numerous measures to further advance the expansion of solar energy and make it usable for the broader society. Above all, bureaucratic hurdles should now be eliminated.

In the future, private individuals will be able to operate mini solar systems as balcony power plants without complicated registration, rules for solar systems in fields and fields will be dismantled and landlords will be able to produce photovoltaic electricity directly for their tenants in apartment buildings. The construction of PV roof systems is being promoted more for companies.

Discussion in the Federal Council on Friday

The solar package was approved in the Bundestag with 384 votes in favor, 200 abstentions and 79 votes against. It should pass the Federal Council today.

The federal government had already passed the solar package months ago. In the Bundestag, however, the struggle within the traffic light coalition over the climate protection law got caught between two fronts. Only when the SPD, Greens and FDP were able to agree on reforming the climate protection law was it possible to pass the solar package.

China as a cheap supplier of solar modules

Green Party deputy Julia Verlinden spoke of a “booster” for renewable energies. The FDP rejected a “resilience bonus” that was primarily demanded by the Greens to promote the domestic solar industry. This bonus was intended for system operators who choose products from European manufacturers.

This should provide greater support for the domestic solar industry in order to keep it in the country or to resettle it here. The background is much cheaper modules from China. SPD MP Nina Scheer said she regretted that such a bonus was not forthcoming. Germany should not become dependent on China.

The expansion of solar power increased sharply in 2023. But a lot is still missing for the federal government to achieve its goal of generating 80 percent of electricity from renewable energies by 2030: last year it was a little more than half.