Germany’s Federal Network Agency or Bundesnetzagentur counts 409.8 MW of new solar PV capacity as having been registered in the country during November 2021, taking the cumulative installed between January 2021 to November 2021 to over 4.84 GW.

After going up to over 607.7 MW in April 2021, PV installations in the country have averaged over 400 MW every month, according to the agency’s numbers. In October 2021, Germany installed 413.24 MW after adjusting entire capacity registered in the month (previously it was mentioned as 411.85 MW) (see Germany Installed 412 MW In Oct. 2021).

While the annual numbers are yet to come in officially, the country’s local solar industry association BSW-Solar counts 5.3 GW of new capacity as having been installed in Germany in 2021 with the help of around 240,000 new solar PV systems, compared to 184,000 new systems adding 4.9 GW in 2020 (see Germany Exited 2020 With 4.88 GW New Solar Installed).

As per the BSW, demand for residential solar and ground mounted solar parks increased in 2021, there was a significant decline in commercial rooftop solar segment, which, after changes in Germany’s feed in law (EEG) now suffer from much worse framework conditions that include a tender process for large commercial systems. BSW argues the country needs to triple its annual PV expansion to an average of 15.6 GW annually between 2022 and 2030 as the current annual expansion is too slow over the past 2 years, if it is to meet its climate targets.

The association is positive about the future of PV in Germany in general as the new coalition government has pledged to increase the country’s total installed solar power capacity from around 59 GW now to 200 GW by 2030 (see 200 GW Solar PV For Germany By 2030).

BSW Managing Director Carsten Körnig says the new government should implement its climate protection program before Easter as delays may ‘quickly deteriorate’ the investment climate in the solar industry. “The monthly lowering of market premiums and an abundance of disproportionate bureaucratic requirements are increasingly dampening the willingness to invest. Fast and courageous political action is essential, even against the background of longer delivery times due to the pandemic,” explained Körnig.

Nonetheless, European solar PV lobby association SolarPower Europe (SPE) sees a bright future for solar in Germany in the coming years. After 5.3 GW in 2021, it expects Germany to add 7.9 GW in 2022 and 10 GW in 2023, according to its Dec. 2021 released EU Market Outlook For Solar Power 2021-2025 (see EU Installs Record 25.9 GW Solar In 2021).