Also in the Year 2024 is the PV expansion in Germany increased. The installed capacity of all renewable energies has grown by almost 20 GW to a total of 190 GW. This corresponds to an increase of 12 % compared to the previous year. Photovoltaics made a significant contribution to this development with a record expansion of almost 16 %, bringing the total installed solar capacity to 99.3 GW at the end of 2024. The main reasons for the renewed increase in PV installations from 14 GW in 2023 to 16.2 GW in 2024 were the continued low module prices and the forthcoming energy legislation.
Focus on PV expansion also in 2024
Two thirds of the newly installed photovoltaic systems were on rooftops or to Facades erected, a third party on open spaces. Bavaria led the federal state rankings with an expansion of 4.0 GW, while the largest single plant was connected to the grid in Saxony with a capacity of 162 MW. The Federal Network Agency registered 435,000 balcony power plants with a total output of 400 MW, which corresponds to a share of 2.6 % of new photovoltaic installations. This is a doubling compared to the previous year. However, the actual number of balcony systems is likely to be higher, as many were not reported. Although the PV expansion in Germany did not double as in 2023, it is getting closer and closer to the annual expansion target. From 2025, 22 GW are to be installed each year in order to reach around 215 gigawatts of PV capacity in Germany by 2030.
Battery storage increasingly popular for PV installations
The combination with a Battery storage is playing an increasingly important role in PV expansion. The average gross output of these storage systems increased slightly. The installed storage capacity of large storage systems increased of 1.4 GWh in 2023 to 2.6 GWh Added to this are the capacities of photovoltaic home storage systems and commercial battery storage systems. According to an analysis, 1.51 million home storage systems were installed in the first half of 2024 alone, with a total capacity of around 13 GWh have. The capacity of the commercial battery storage system of around 1.1 GWh. This adds up to the installed storage capacity in 2024 to just under 16 GWh. Further large storage facilities are already planned for 2025.
Contribution of renewables to electricity generation in 2024
Renewable energies assumed a key role in electricity generation in 2024: 62.7 % of net electricity production came from renewable sources, with 275.2 TWh of energy produced. The share of solar energy in electricity production grew by 18 % and accounted for 14 % of total generation. The decline in coal-fired power generation and the elimination of nuclear energy were fully compensated for by renewable energies.
Accelerated procedures for wind power and high PV expansion
The expansion of renewable energies benefited from accelerated approval procedures, which Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck highlighted as a key success factor. In addition to the continued high level of PV expansion, wind power also showed potential, as permits for plants with a capacity of 15 GW were issued in 2024, which suggests further expansion in the coming years. The boom in photovoltaics is also providing important impetus for the energy transition and the long-term decarbonization of the energy sector.