Navigating Germany's Solar Peak Law: Preparing for Changes in Photovoltaic Systems
Solar Power System Owners
Get ready, owners of private photovoltaic systems! A wave of new rules is coming your way, as the German government introduces the Solar Peak Law to manage power grid overloads from excessive solar energy production. Find out what you need to know about the law, its implications, and steps you can take to keep the sun shining on your savings.
The Solar Peak Law, implemented since the end of February 2025, aims to evenly distribute solar power throughout the day to prevent "peak loads" during midday. This is crucial for maintaining grid stability and integrating renewable energy sources.
Changes for PV System Owners
Photovoltaic systems with a capacity of 7 kW or more can only feed in electricity unrestricted if they're equipped with an intelligent metering system (iMSys) and a control device. Until installation, the feed-in capacity is limited to 60% of the rated power. Systems below 7 kW remain permanently capped, even after iMSys installation.
However, even with an iMSys, new systems producing 2 kW or more won't receive feed-in compensation if the wholesale electricity price is negative. This happens when solar power production surpasses demand at the electricity exchange, occurring for about 500 hours out of approximately 1,600 sunny hours last year. This lost compensation will be reimbursed with a delay of 20 years.
This regulation aims to reduce feed-in during times of high network load and encourage owners to consume or store their electricity during peak hours, feeding it back into the grid later when needed.
Criticism and Opportunities
The German Solar Energy Association (SFV) criticizes the new regulation, as the 60% feed-in limit without control technology can lead to substantial energy losses, especially during periods when the local network isn't overloaded. The primary concern is that the regulation responds more to market signals like wholesale electricity prices and less to actual local network conditions.
Small PV systems without smart meter infrastructure may also face economic issues. While self-consumption and battery storage can offset losses, these investments aren't feasible or profitable for all households. The SFV views the new law as a potential risk to the decentralized expansion of solar energy, which has been a key driving force behind the energy transition.
Industry companies, however, see opportunities for consumers. By utilizing intelligent energy management systems and storage, households can profit from the newly regulated remuneration schemes. For example, Oliver Koch, CEO of Sonnen (an Allgäu-based company producing intelligent storage systems), contends, "The new law rewards the right time to feed electricity into the grid, not just the quantity. For households, this means: Intelligent energy management and a storage system are now an absolute necessity, as anyone without it will lose money."
Practical Tips for PV Owners
- Preparation for New Systems: If commissioning your plant after the deadline of February 25, 2025, consider installing an iMSys or apply for one to bypass feed-in capacity limitations and secure remuneration even during full solar yield. While this comes with additional costs, a smart meter provides protection against permanent yield losses and offers flexibility for future direct marketing or smart consumption control.
- Battery Storage Systems: These help increase self-consumption and reduce yield losses due to feed-in limitations. An intelligent, forecast-based system can offset the 60% rule effectively. Consult an installer to determine if a storage system is economically viable for your household.
- Existing Systems: Plants with a peak power of up to 7 kW aren't currently subject to control technology requirements but are affected by the loss of feed-in remuneration during negative market prices. Further, these systems can't restore their feed-in capacity once an iMSys is installed.
Conclusion: Embrace Smart Meters and Power Storage for Adaptability
While the solar cap law might initially appear daunting, it doesn't have to be a major setback – provided that PV system owners embrace the new opportunities the law offers to circumvent restrictions. Smart meters and energy storage systems can help offset restrictions, offering potential new savings or income opportunities as flexibility becomes increasingly valuable, even for households.
- The Solar Peak Law, aimed at managing power grid overloads from excessive solar energy production, calls for the installation of intelligent metering systems (iMSys) and control devices in photovoltaic systems with a capacity of 7 kW or more to maintain grid stability.
- As the new law encourages owners to consume or store their electricity during peak hours, the science of renewable energy and environmental-science become crucial for households to optimize their energy usage and profit from the newly regulated remuneration schemes.
- The German Solar Energy Association (SFV) argues that the new regulation, with its 60% feed-in limit without control technology, could lead to energy losses and potentially hinder the decentralized expansion of solar energy, a key driving force behind the energy transition.
- The technology industry sees opportunities for consumers in the Solar Peak Law. With the right investments in intelligent energy management systems and storage, households can adapt to the new regulations, overcome yield losses, and generate additional income, as stated by Oliver Koch, CEO of Sonnen, an Allgäu-based company producing intelligent storage systems.
