Economy Minister seeks to reassess financial support for personally-owned solar projects
In the ongoing discourse surrounding renewable energy, Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche has expressed a preference for technological openness over targeted subsidies in her approach to photovoltaic (PV) energy policy.
While Reiche has not publicly taken a specific, detailed stance on scrapping or continuing the feed-in tariff (feed-in compensation) for existing solar plants, her energy strategy aims to balance growth, supply security, climate protection, and affordability. Upon taking office, she announced a policy "reality check," reshaping previous energy policies, but there is no explicit statement on directly maintaining or scrapping feed-in compensation for existing solar installations [1].
One of the potential sources of renewable energy is solar carports, which have the potential to generate 60 gigawatts of solar power. However, despite the demand, there are few solar plants on multi-family buildings. The solar and housing industry is advocating for solar plants on apartment buildings, with a significant number of tenants expressing a desire for solar power.
Meanwhile, solar roofs for parking lots offer climate-neutral power generation and protection for parked vehicles from the sun. These installations are in high demand in Thuringia, where solar plants currently generate a fifth of the electricity consumed.
In terms of compensation, the amount varies depending on the size of the plant, the type of feed-in, and the time of commissioning. Those who generate solar power on their roof and feed it into the grid receive a fixed amount per kilowatt hour for 20 years. Larger plants receive less compensation, while more money is given for kilowatt hours if the entire generated power goes into the grid. The compensation is gradually reduced over time.
The Federal Social Court in Kassel has decided that the feed-in compensation for solar power must be offset against unemployment benefit. Reiche proposes that PV plants should be connected to storage systems and participate in the market. She also suggests that operators should consider the power grid and current demand when erecting PV plants.
New small PV plants already make sense in the market today and do not require promotion, according to Reiche. Balcony power plants are in high demand, particularly in Thuringia, where residents are seeking energy autarky amidst the current energy crisis in Europe.
For the latest or more detailed policy updates on the PV feed-in compensation issue, official statements from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy or recent press releases would be the best sources to consult.
[1] Information based on available sources in 2025.
- Minister Katherina Reiche, in her approach to photovoltaic (PV) energy policy, favors technological openness over targeted subsidies, yet her stance on the feed-in tariff for existing solar plants remains ambiguous.
- Amidst the growing demand, the solar and housing industry is advocating for solar plants on apartment buildings, with many tenants expressing a desire for renewable energy, particularly solar power.
- Climate-neutral power generation is not limited to solar roofs alone; solar carports have the potential to generate 60 gigawatts of solar power, but they are underrepresented compared to other solar plants.
- In the realm of environmental-science and business, Federal Minister Reiche proposes that PV plants should be connected to storage systems, participate in the market, and consider the power grid and current demand when erecting plants, a shift that could reshape the existing renewable-energy and finance landscape.
