Solar Germany’s biggest power source in June as price reaches all-time high

Solar photovoltaics (PV) became the main source in Germany’s net power production in the month of June while also achieving its highest price ever, Sandra Enkhardt writes in pv magazine, citing data from research institute Fraunhofer ISE. Installed solar PV systems in Germany generated 7.99 terawatt hours of solar power - more than ever before in a single month - accounting for 20.6 percent of net electricity generation. At the same time, the market price of solar energy reached an all-time high of 6.684 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The record price has helped maintain a surplus in Germany’s Renewable Energy Act (EEG) account that funds renewable energy. PV operators who won solar tenders and agreed to prices below 6.684 cents per kWh do not receive EEG remuneration since they are already enjoying a higher market price when feeding solar power into the grid. As a result, the EEG account surplus was only slightly dented in June, falling by just 350 million euros to 4.72 billion euros.

Solar PV remains a major cornerstone of the country’s energy transition. While Germany is currently seeing a major boost in residential PV installations, industry representatives are now calling for the country’s solar target to be raised from 100 to 150 gigawatts by 2030. At the same time, amendments to the EEG are expected to encourage greater self-consumption of solar power as many early PV projects lose their guaranteed feed-in tariffs after 20 years.