An increasing number of companies and private households in Germany are using solar power to generate electricity. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, which announced on 20 June, 2.6 million photovoltaic systems were installed on rooftops and private properties in March this year, with a total rated power of around 70,600 megawatts. The number of photovoltaic systems increased by 16% in one year and the installed capacity by 21%.
The share of photovoltaics in total electricity generation is also increasing. In the past year, Germany delivered 54.3 million MWh of electricity to the grid by operating PV systems, an increase of 20% year-on-year. 11% of the electricity fed into the grid in Germany in 2022 was generated by PV, a record high. 9% of the total electricity generated in 2021 will be generated by PV. The record month for solar power generation in Germany so far was June 2022: with almost 7.7 million MWh, one fifth (20%) of the electricity connected to the grid in that month was generated with the help of photovoltaic systems.
"The current figures confirm the rapid growth of the German solar market. Given the expansion targets for solar energy, we can even assume that this development will accelerate even more in the future." Thomas Grigoleit, Head of Energy, Building and Environmental Technology at the German Federal Foreign Trade and Investment Agency, said.
The statistics record all photovoltaic systems supplying electricity to the public grid, as well as having meters that measure the amount of electricity supplied to the grid. Smaller systems, such as terrace photovoltaic installations, are generally not included.
The German Federal Foreign Trade and Investment Agency is the agency of the German Federal Government for foreign trade and domestic investment. The agency provides advice and support to foreign companies entering the German market and assists companies established in Germany to enter foreign markets.