Germany saw a substantial increase in solar capacity, adding approximately 14GW in 2023, according to the German Solar Industry Association (BSW). The residential segment emerged as a major contributor, accounting for nearly half of the new additions.
BSW reported an 85% year-on-year growth in Germany's solar additions, surpassing the 7.5GW added in 2022. Notably, the residential segment witnessed an impressive 135% year-on-year increase, contributing 7GW to the newly installed solar power capacity in 2023.
Ground-level solar parks constituted 31% (around 4.3GW) of the newly added solar capacity, marking a 40% year-on-year increase. BSW anticipates continued growth in this segment throughout the year as barriers to accessing suitable sites and the electricity grid are dismantled.
Commercial rooftop solar capacity also experienced growth, with developers adding around 2.5GW, a 75% year-on-year increase.
BSW Managing Director Carsten Körnig highlighted the need for expedited measures to upgrade grids and enhance storage capacities to support the expanding share of solar capacity.
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The association revealed that over 1.5 million private property owners in Germany are planning to install solar systems on their rooftops.
In 2023, Germany surpassed one million new solar installations, bringing the total number of installed solar PV systems to 3.7 million, with an electricity production capacity of 62 billion kWh, covering 12% of the country's electricity consumption.
Germany's commitment to solar energy expansion extended to various industries, exemplified by an auction for solar installations on buildings and noise barriers that awarded contracts to 88 bids with a cumulative capacity of 191MW in November 2023.
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Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) launched a request for expressions of interest to bolster the country's solar PV manufacturing supply chain. The initiative aims to establish 10GW of solar PV manufacturing annually, covering the entire value chain from silicon to modules, with a minimum annual module capacity of 2GW.
