OVERVIEW - Rooftop solar to become mandatory in several German states in 2023

Germany's federal states are gradually making solar installations on the roofs of residential and commercial buildings mandatory as such systems are expected to make a significant contribution to reaching the 215-GW target of installed solar capacity by 2030.

The installation of solar panels on the roofs of buildings is already mandatory in Baden-Wuerttemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, while Berlin, Hamburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony have adopted laws introducing the obligation as of January 1, 2023.

In Baden-Wuerttemberg, the southern federal state that ranks second in terms of installed solar capacity with 7.8 GW, a must for the deployment of solar systems on the roofs of new non-residential buildings has been in force since January 1, 2022. New residential buildings across the state have been required to have solar panels since May 1, 2022. From January 1, 2023, PV systems will become obligatory also for existing buildings in case of roof renovation.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, a solar obligation entered into force at the beginning of 2022 and applies only to parking lots belonging to non-residential buildings with more than 35 parking spaces.

Hesse was the latest state to introduce similar legislation. In November, the state approved changes to its energy law that provide for the mandatory installation of solar systems on parking lots with more than 50 parking spaces and on all state buildings.

A requirement for a solar installation is also planned in Bavaria, which, with 17.2 GW of installed solar capacity, is a champion among German states. New commercial and industrial buildings with construction documents submitted after January 1, 2023, as well as other non-residential buildings with documents filed before July 1, 2023, must be equipped with a solar system. The installation of solar panels is recommended and not obligatory for new residential buildings in the state.

In Schleswig-Holstein in the north, new non-residential buildings will be required to have solar panels on their roofs from January 1, 2023. This applies also to existing non-residential buildings when more than 10% of their roof area is renovated as well as to new parking lots with more than 100 parking spaces.

Berlin has also made PV systems mandatory for new residential buildings as of January 1, 2023, but also accepts the installation of a PV facade or a solar thermal installation as an alternative.

Hamburg's legislation provides for the installation of solar panels atop new buildings from 2023 on, while from 2025 on, such an obligation will apply also to roof renovation.

A must for a solar system will enter into force in Rhineland-Palatinate at the beginning of 2023 and will apply to new commercial buildings with a roof area of over 100 sq m and to covered parking lots with 50 spaces or more.

In Lower Saxony, new non-residential buildings with predominantly commercial use and an existing roof area of ​​75 square metres must be equipped with solar panels from 2023 on.

Bremen and Saxony are also considering similar legislation to spur the expansion of solar energy.

Details about the installed solar capacity in the 16 federal states as of June 2022 are available in the table below.

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