Germany’s solar additions jump to new record of 1 million new systems in 2023

More than one million new solar power systems were installed in Germany last year, an all-time record, according to the country’s solar industry association BSW. The new arrays had a combined capacity of around 14 gigawatts, an increase of 85 percent compared to 2022, when new installations added up to around 7.5 GW. The industry association said it expects demand to remain high in 2024 due to electricity price increases and attractive subsidies. According to a survey commissioned by the lobby group, more than 1.5 million private property owners are planning to install a rooftop solar system this year. “Sixty-nine percent of residential property owners with suitable roof space can imagine installing a solar system on their roof. Sixteen percent are already planning to do so in the next 12 months,” BSW said.

At around 7 GW, half of the newly installed solar power capacity in 2023 was in the residential segment – in increase of 135 per cent compared to in 2022, according to the BSW figures. The total number of photovoltaic systems in the country now stands at around 3.7 million. In total, these systems produced 62 billion kilowatt hours last year, covering around 12 percent of Germany's 2023 electricity consumption, the industry group said. Germany plans to make solar PV one of its central energy sources as it aims to ramp up the share of renewable electricity to 80 percent of consumption by 2030. In 2023, renewables covered more than half of Germany’s electricity demand for the first time.