Erneuerbare Energien: Solarausbauziel für 2026 erreicht - Sorge um nächste Stufen

Berlin - Germany's solar energy expansion has surpassed its 2026 target, according to the Federal Association of the Solar Industry (BSW-Solar). The installed capacity has crossed the 128 gigawatt peak (GWp) threshold, surpassing the goal set by the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). GWp refers to the maximum power output that solar panels can generate.

However, BSW-Solar officials express concern that upcoming milestones may be challenging. They fear a slowdown in solar power expansion due to potential changes in the political framework. BSW-Solar's chief executive Carsten Körnig emphasized that while the 128-GW milestone is a success, more effort is needed to reach the targets set until 2030, 2050, and 2040.

The law already outlines 172 GW for 2028 and 215 GW for 2030, with 400 GW projected for 2040. Despite recent annual additions of about 17.5 GW, BSW-Solar estimates that an additional 20 GW per year would be required to hit the 2030 target. In the first half of 2026 alone, around 7.5 GWp were installed. While this is an improvement over the previous year, officials suspect the surge may be due to the removal of subsidies, rather than sustained growth.

BSW-Solar urges the Bundestag to review the recently approved EEG amendment and the network connection package to ensure a stable environment for solar and battery storage investments. Körnig stresses that without reliable policies, the expansion of photovoltaic and battery storage systems could stall precisely when the industry needs rapid growth.