Germany eases regulations for many rooftop solar installations
Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has introduced a streamlined registration process for plug-in balcony solar photovoltaic (PV) units, also known as ‘balcony power plants’, effective from 1st April.
BNetzA head Klaus Müller emphasised the importance of enabling people to easily participate in the energy transition. He highlighted that balcony power plants can now be swiftly and efficiently registered through the regulator’s core energy market data register online portal (MaStR).
To register, tenants or homeowners only need to provide five details about their balcony power plants, along with personal information. This marks a significant reduction in bureaucracy compared to the previous requirement of around 20 entries.
The initiative to simplify the installation of user-friendly PV units in residential properties aligns with the increasing popularity of solar energy, as evidenced by the surge in installations recorded on the MaStR platform. In 2023, 1.6 million new electricity generation systems were added to the online portal, with 300,000 being balcony power plants.
BNetzA highlighted that this trend indicates a broader acceptance of the energy transition among the general population, underscoring the need for a straightforward registration process for these systems.
The German parliament, Bundestag, is currently deliberating on legislation to further expedite the expansion of solar energy. The proposed changes aim to deregulate the use of balcony power units, making registration on MaStR adequate without the need for an additional declaration to grid operators.
Furthermore, the network agency is actively modernising the online register to enhance user experience and accessibility.
Germany has set a target to meet 80% of its electricity demand through renewable sources by 2030, with photovoltaics expected to play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
