Berlin photovoltaic energy storage policy design

Is solar energy a building block for Berlin's climate protection strategy?

The expansion of solar energy use is emphasised as a particularly important building block in Berlin’s climate protection strategy, since, with over 560,000 buildings in Berlin, there are rooftops and house façades aplenty, unlike suitable wind power sites.

How many photovoltaic systems are there in Berlin?

Compared to solar thermal energy, there are far more photovoltaic systems registered in Berlin. As of July 7, 2023, 20,985 systems were in place, with a total installed capacity of around 230 MWp.

Are solar panels mandatory in Berlin?

The set of measures stipulated in the master plan is accompanied by the Berlin solar law. Solar panels have been mandatory since January 1, 2023. The installation and operation of photovoltaic systems have been mandatory since then for new and existing buildings under certain conditions (SenK 2021).

How many solar thermal systems are there in Berlin?

As of March 29, 2023, there were about 8,250 solar thermal systems in the State of Berlin with an installed collector surface of more than 81,000 m² (last update as of December 31, 2015 for 7,733 systems, IP SYSCON 2016). Averaged over the years, the collector surface amounted to around 10 m² per system.

Are solar thermal systems becoming more popular in Berlin?

Overall, a declining trend has been observed since then. In Berlin, solar thermal systems are mainly used for hot water supply and to supplement space heating. In addition, some larger solar systems are used for heating drinking water and swimming pool water; they are further used for solar air systems and air conditioning systems.

How much solar power does Berlin have?

According to the master plan study for the “Masterplan Solarcity Berlin”, the State of Berlin owns 5.4 % of Berlin’s buildings. Their roof surfaces account for 8.3 % of the solar potential (SenWEB 2019). On the public buildings in Berlin, there are 691 PV systems with a total installed capacity of 42.1 MWp (as of April 1, 2023).