Solar Market Overview - From Plug-in Solar to Utility Scale PV Power Plants

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Recording of Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | The smarter E Europe 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 16:11 .

Germany Sets Ambitious 250 GW Solar Target by 2030 Amid Record Market Growth

The German market has experienced significant growth in photovoltaic (PV) capacity and battery storage under the new government, maintaining its position as Europe's largest PV market. By late last year, Germany's cumulative installed PV capacity reached 100 gigawatt peak, with an additional 25 gigawatt peak rooftop PV capacity added between 2022 and 2024. The ground-mounted sector also expanded significantly due to recent tenders. Currently, Germany hosts over five million PV systems and two million battery units with a combined storage capability exceeding 20 gigawatt hours. Despite these achievements, challenges persist; residential rooftop markets are adjusting after previous years of rapid growth like '23. However, commercial and industrial sectors continue expanding robustly at around +15% annually for rooftops while ground-mounted grows by +14%. Economically vital is this industry’s contribution: generating €32 billion turnover alongside employing approximately 120k individuals across both solar panels & batteries segments alike—demonstrating broad public support towards accelerated renewable energy adoption within governmental agendas aiming ambitiously toward achieving their target goal set forth till 2030 which stands currently halfway reached already! There is optimism about the coalition treaty's focus on energy expansion despite concerns regarding electricity demand monitoring potentially slowing progress—a situation deemed undesirable by stakeholders. An experienced minister for economic affairs promises beneficial dialogue opportunities with officials to advance initiatives confidently under current conditions.

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Juliane Hinsch
Head of Concentrated Solar
German Solar Association (BSW-Solar)
Germany

Germany, the only European solar market with sustained annual deployment in the double-digit gigawatt range, must accelerate even further to meet its ambitious 2030 PV targets. With over 100 GW of total capacity by the end of the year, the country now faces the challenge of more than doubling its capacity to 215 GW within just six years, and reaching 400 GW by 2040. However, with a new government, energy infrastructure constraints, and a generally gloomy business climate, are these goals actually achievable? This session will provide: Comprehensive market status update across key solar segments Insights into the new political landscape's impact on solar deployment Strategies and policy tools to meet the 2030 & 2040 targets Panel discussion with industry experts on overcoming barriers.

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Dr. Michael Fuhs
Chief Editor
pv magazine group GmbH & Co. KG
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Tobias Reuther
Research Associate
Fraunhofer-Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
Germany

Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.

Speaker

Mario Schirru
CIO/COO
Encavis AG
Germany

Video is not available

Speaker

Christian Salzeder
Managing Director
SUNOTEC Germany
Germany

To Talk

To Talk

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