At the end of January 2025, the so-called Solar peak law the Bundestag, which contains decisive regulations for PV systems 2025 contains. In mid-February, the Bundesrat also approved the "Act to amend the Energy Industry Act to avoid temporary producer surpluses". The new regulation, which was passed by the SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and the CDU, provides for the EEG funding for new PV systems at negative prices to pause. In addition, the Solar Peak Act is intended to better control generation peaks, ensure grid stability and promote market mechanisms. But what does this mean in concrete terms for operators of such PV systems in 2025?
Background to the Solar Peak Act for PV systems 2025
The background to the Solar Peak Act is the Increasing volatility of electricity generation due to the massive expansion of renewable energies, particularly photovoltaics. In recent years, high feed-in volumes from solar power systems have led to more electricity being produced in certain hours than could actually be consumed. This Overcapacity on the electricity exchange sometimes lead to negative electricity pricesbecause many PV systems still cannot be regulated remotely.
This development not only puts a strain on the electricity grid, but also leads to an increasing financial burden through the support system of the Renewable Energy Sources Act. To counteract these problems, feed-in is now to be controlled in a more market-oriented manner. Operators of solar installations that do not have intelligent control of their generators, consumers or large-scale battery storage systems must expect restrictions on grid feed-in in future or must meet additional requirements for the controllability of their installations.
Key points of the Solar Peak Act for PV systems 2025
The Solar Peak Act will bring far-reaching changes for operators of PV systems from 2025. The aim is to optimize the integration of solar power into the grid, improve market incentives and ensure grid stability. The most important regulations at a glance:
- No feed-in tariff with negative electricity prices
Operators of new PV systems from 7 kWp that are connected to the public grid after the law comes into force will no longer receive an EEG feed-in tariff in hours with negative electricity prices. This measure is intended to reduce market distortions and promote self-consumption.
- Compensation mechanism for lost remuneration
The lost hours are added to the regular 20-year EEG subsidy. This extends the entire EEG remuneration period by the hours with negative exchange electricity prices. This is intended to ensure the long-term economic viability of the plants.
- Feed-in limitation to 60 % without radio ripple control receiver
Systems over 100 kWp may only feed 60 % of their nominal output into the public grid until a radio ripple control receiver or smart meter is installed and receive no compensation. Existing PV systems can voluntarily switch to the new regulation and benefit from an increase in the feed-in tariff of 0.6 cents/kWh.
- Obligation for controllability and smart meter integration
New PV systems from 100 kWp must be equipped with smart metering systems. This allows grid operators to intervene at critical times to ensure grid stability.
- Facilitated direct marketing for PV systems under 100 kWp
Smaller PV systems can more easily go into direct marketing and sell their electricity more easily on the exchange without being obliged to do so. Direct marketing is only mandatory from 100 kWp.
- Technical "TÜV" for large PV systems
A mandatory technical testing mechanism will be introduced for systems from 100 kWp. Grid operators will also be given the right to carry out test shutdowns to ensure the controllability of the systems.
- More flexible control of large battery storage systems
A new demarcation option is to be created by precisely measuring the electricity volumes based on 950 full-load hours per year, which are converted into quarter hours and multiplied by a factor of 0.5. Double levies for back-stored electricity volumes are to be avoided from 2026.
- Focus on self-consumption & intelligent networking
Operators who specifically use their solar power themselves, store it or feed it into the grid flexibly will benefit the most in future.
Overall, analyses show that operators without storage or intelligent energy management can expect to lose an average of 20 percent of their feed-in tariff. However, investments in storage solutions or dynamic electricity tariffs could significantly reduce these losses.
Criticism & challenges
The solar peak law brings Economic challenges with it. From 2025, operators must be prepared for the fact that traditional sources of income could be reduced. Without additional measures such as Large-scale battery storage or a flexible load or energy management system (EMS) such as the CUBE EfficiencyUnit are threatened with financial losses. At the same time, however, the new regulations also offer opportunities: those who invest in innovative storage or self-consumption solutions at an early stage could benefit in the long term.
The new compensation mechanism through the simple extension of the EEG remuneration period can be used for the Financing some larger PV projects to problems lead. Although the overall focus is on optimizing self-consumption, there is a lack of targeted support for battery storage systems. However, these are essential in order to make surplus electricity Use flexibly and relieve the load on the grid. Without appropriate funding incentives, many operators could face financial hurdles that make sustainable investment in storage technologies more difficult.
Another controversially discussed topic is the extended Controllability of energy systems by grid operators and the Mandatory smart meter rollout with the associated administrative adjustments. While this intervention option is intended to help stabilize the grid, it is also seen as a potential restriction of property rights. In practice, it remains to be seen how often and to what extent grid operators will actually make use of this measure.
Despite the existing points of criticism, the Solar Peak Act offers both risks and new opportunities. The decisive factor will be how flexibly operators, grid operators and legislators react to the challenges ahead.
Opportunities & prospects of the Solar Peak Law for PV systems 2025
The need to ensure grid stability, strengthen market mechanisms and make self-consumption more attractive is accompanied by considerable challenges. In particular, the restrictions on feed-in tariffs in the event of negative electricity prices and the compensation procedure could affect the economic viability of many planned PV systems from 2025. At the same time, the Solar Peak Act opens up new opportunities: operators who invest in intelligent storage and control technologies at an early stage can secure long-term economic advantages. Whether it will be possible to integrate renewable electricity generation into the grid more efficiently will be seen in practice and in the further development of the law.