Markets

Germany Exited 2022 With 7.2 GW New Solar Installed

With 66.5 GW Total Installed Capacity, Solar PV Overtakes Onshore & Offshore Wind Together For First Time

Anu Bhambhani
  • Germany's total installed solar PV capacity at the end of 2022 reached 66.5 GW
  • It includes 7.179 GW added in the year 2022, with December contributing 350 MW
  • Bundesnetzagentur counts the country to need over 1.5 GW new capacity every month to achieve 215 GW target by 2030

German Federal Network Agency or Bundesnetzagentur says the country installed 7.179 GW new solar PV capacity in the year 2022 with the inclusion of 350 MW in December 2022, taking the country's cumulative installed capacity till the end of last year to 66.5 GW.

While these numbers may change with the final tally at a later date, it is already a little higher than the 7 GW targeted by the German government for 2022. However, at the current level, it is less than the 7.9 GW forecasted by SolarPower Europe (SPE) in its recent EU Global Market (see European Union To Exit 2022 With Over 41 GW Solar Installed).

Cumulatively, solar PV outdid both onshore and offshore wind with a total of 66.5 GW as against 66.35 GW for the latter 2 in 2022. (Source: Bundesnetzagentur)

With 66.5 GW aggregate, solar has now overtaken cumulative wind capacity of 66.35 GW, both onshore (58.23 GW) and offshore (8.12 GW), for the 1st time in the country's power mix even if it is by a few MWs. In 2022, onshore wind contributed 2.4 GW new capacity while offshore wind brought in 342 MW.

Nonetheless solar needs to grow further on monthly basis, 1.547 GW to be precise according to the agency, for Germany to be able to achieve 215 GW cumulative solar PV target by 2030 (see German Government Agrees On Higher 2030 Solar Goal Of 215 GW).