A decision to end subsidies for home battery systems in Germany appears to have been reversed.
The subsidies, which have helped finance the installation more than 15,000 residential energy storage systems in the country, were to be axed at the end of this year.
The program provides up to €660 (around AUD$960 at current exchange rates) per kilowatt of solar panels; to a maximum 30kW installation. During the subsidy period, prices of battery systems in Germany have fallen by more than 25%.
The German Solar Industry Association has welcomed the decision of Federal Minister Sigmar Gabriel to extend the program.
“Attractive and reliable framework conditions are essential for the launch of storage technologies,” said Carsten Körnig, chief executive of the Association. ” Now Germany has a chance to expand its system leadership in this huge global market of the future.”
According to Greens party member, Dr. Julia Verlinden, one euro from the support program mobilises up to seven euros investment.
It’s not clear yet as to how much longer the program will be continued for or in what form. Dr. Verlinden and her party have called for 25 million euros support over three years.
Just as Germany led the solar revolution with solar feed in tariffs that had an important role in reducing the cost of solar panels, the nation is also playing a major role in the next energy revolution.
According to a study by Agora Energiewende published in October, Germany’s current electricity infrastructure could support four times as much solar power capacity if energy storage is properly integrated.
After mammoth growth, solar uptake has slowed in Germany. During 2015, the country is expected to install approximately 1 GW of PV; around 2% of global installations for the year.
According to Fraunhofer ISE (PDF), PV generated power reached 34.9 terawatt hours last year and provided approximately 6.8 percent of Germany’s net electricity consumption. Renewable energy as a whole accounted for 31 percent of net electricity consumption.
The total nominal power of PV installed in Germany rose to 38.5 GW capacity by the end of last year.
