Solar expansion: focus on large roof areas

Berlin's largest photovoltaic system was installed on the roofs of the Messe trade fair center. In the coming years, Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey wants to focus more on such large-scale projects. (archive picture)

Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) wants to focus more on large roofs belonging to companies and other owners in the future.

"If we want to reach 4,400 megawatt peak capacity by 2035 and we have 460 now, then that means we have to look very closely at capacity," said Giffey after a meeting of the Senate. The focus will therefore now shift. "I see great potential here, especially among Berlin companies, which is not yet being sufficiently exploited."

Currently 53,000 solar systems installed in Berlin

As of Monday, 53,000 solar systems with a total output of 459 megawatt peak have been installed in Berlin, according to Giffey. Megawatt peak is the unit for the maximum output of a solar installation. According to preliminary estimates, this means that around 5.6 percent of the electricity generated in Berlin can currently be obtained from solar systems. "The solar power installed to date is roughly equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by around 165,000 households per year," the economic administration announced. The state aims to achieve a total output of 4,400 megawatt peak and a solar power share of 25 percent by 2035.

Funding approved for around 19,000 balcony solar power systems

Giffey said that there has been a lot of focus on balcony solar power systems recently. In the SolarPlus funding program, a total of around 27,000 approvals worth 26.5 million euros were granted between September 2022 and September 2025 - 19,000 approvals related to balcony power plants. Such systems generate relatively little power per unit.