Germany's governing coalition has agreed on measures to boost the use of solar energy as well as a controversial reform of the Climate Protection Act as it seeks to move away from the use of coal and gas.
The German government's goal is for 80% of the nation's electricity to be drawn from renewable energy sources by 2030. Last year, it was more than half.
Solar power generation increased significantly last year, almost doubling compared to the previous year to 14.1 gigawatts, thanks to numerous private systems, according to the Federal Network Agency.
There was also an increase in the expansion of solar systems on commercial rooftops and open spaces. Germany's total installed capacity was 81.7 gigawatts at the end of 2023, meaning 19 gigawatts would have to be added annually for Berlin to reach the expansion target of 215 gigawatts of solar power in 2030.
Half of the new solar installations are to be installed on buildings, mainly rooftops, and the other half on open spaces such as fields, under the plan.
There are several measures to speed up the expansion, allowing local authorities to plan and set up wind and solar parks more easily and quickly, said Julia Verlinden, deputy leader of the Greens' parliamentary group.
"And millions of citizens can save money even more easily with balcony solar at home and do something good for climate protection," she said.
There is to be less bureaucracy for those seeking to set up what have been dubbed "balcony power plants." People will no longer have to register them with the grid operator, but must only register them in the Federal Network Agency's market master data register.
There are also to be fewer hurdles for "tenant electricity," where a solar system on site is used to generate power for a residential building. Better subsidies and simpler billing are to make rooftop solar generation more attractive.
The government is also set to promote solar installations on commercial buildings such as supermarkets, factory buildings and company car parks, and encourage solar installations on arable land.
The lower house, or Bundestag, is expected to pass the package of solar energy measures next week and it will then have to pass in the upper house, or Bundesrat.