Germany has officially crossed the 100 GW mark for its cumulative installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, following the installation of 1.12 GW of new systems in January 2025, according to the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). However, this figure represents a sharp decline compared to previous months, signaling a slowdown in growth at the start of the year.
January 2025 Installations Fall by 38% Compared to December
Despite achieving the milestone, January’s solar additions were significantly lower than the 1.82 GW recorded in December 2024, marking a 38% month-on-month decline. The year-on-year comparison also shows a nearly 30% drop, as January 2024 had seen 1.61 GW of new installations.
The country narrowly missed hitting the 100 GW benchmark at the end of 2024, closing the year with 99.3 GW in total installed capacity. Revised figures now indicate that Germany added approximately 16.73 GW of new solar PV capacity throughout 2024.
Rooftop Solar Leads New Installations
Breaking down the January 2025 additions, rooftop solar installations contributed the largest share, with 756 MW added. Ground-mounted projects, including floating PV plants, accounted for 237.5 MW, while small balcony PV systems added 19.3 MW. The remaining 13 MW came from other structures such as large parking lots and noise barriers, according to data from the agency’s Market Master Data Register.
Germany’s 2030 Solar Target Requires Faster Growth
Germany has set an ambitious goal of reaching 215 GW of solar PV capacity by 2030. To stay on track, the country needs to install around 1.61 GW of solar energy each month. The slowdown in early 2025 raises concerns about whether this pace can be maintained in the coming years.
Policy Changes Aim to Streamline Solar Expansion
In an effort to accelerate solar deployment, the German Parliament (Bundestag) recently approved amendments to several energy laws. The changes, outlined in the Solar Package Act, aim to cut red tape and enhance digitalization in the solar industry.
While Germany’s solar market has made significant strides, the recent dip in installations underscores the challenges ahead. Industry experts suggest that policy reforms and infrastructure improvements will be crucial in sustaining the country’s momentum toward its renewable energy goals.
