Solar panel and solar carport obligation in Germany for buildings and open parking lots above a certain size

Baden-Württemberg

• From January 1, 2022, for the construction of new non-residential buildings and for the construction of new parking lots with 35 or more parking spaces.
• From May 1, 2022, for the construction of new residential buildings.
• From January 1, 2023, for major roof renovations.

Berlin

From January 1, 2023, this applies to installations requiring significant roof modifications. The building's usable floor area must be greater than 50 m². Furthermore, at least 30% of the net living area must be covered with photovoltaic panels. This applies to both existing and new buildings! Alternative minimum requirements have also been established for residential buildings.

Hamburg

• Available from January 1, 2023 in new buildings, for both commercial and residential buildings.
• From January 1, 2025, when the roof membrane is renewed.

Lower Saxony

• There is currently no obligation to install solar panels in renovation projects.

• From January 1, 2023, solar panels will be mandatory for new buildings with predominantly commercial use.
• From January 1, 2025 for new residential buildings.
• From January 1, 2024, all other new buildings.
• From 1 January 2023 onwards, when constructing an open parking lot or parking deck with more than 50 parking spaces for motor vehicles.

North Rhine-Westphalia

From January 1, 2022, this applies to new parking areas with more than 35 parking spaces. Parking areas belonging to residential buildings are exempt.

Rhineland-Palatinate

• From January 1, 2023, for new commercial buildings with more than 100 m², or alternatively on outdoor areas.
• Solar panels will be mandatory for parking lots with 50 or more parking spaces from January 1, 2023

Bavaria

Cabinet decides (June 28, 2022) on mandatory solar panels for businesses and industry from 2023

“A solar roof requirement is planned for newly constructed commercial and industrial buildings if the complete building plans are submitted from January 1, 2023. For other non-residential buildings, the deadline is July 1, 2023. For newly constructed residential buildings, a recommendation is in place. A complete roof replacement is considered equivalent to new construction.”

Several German states have already mandated solar power systems, specifically for:

• Residential buildings and non-residential buildings
• Private and commercial new buildings
• During roof renovations
• Open parking spaces ( solar carport / solar charging stations)

New: Brandenburg

• Mandatory solar panels for commercial properties (factories, office buildings, etc.) planned from 2024
• Solar panels are mandatory for roof renovations and new buildings
• Homeowners are exempt from the solar panel requirement
• Solar panels will be mandatory for parking lots with 35 or more spaces starting in 2024

However, the situation varies from state to state. Not every state supports a solar carport requirement or a solar panel requirement for new private buildings.

It is currently unclear whether and when similar regulations will follow in the federal states of Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saarland.

Introduction of a solar/photovoltaic obligation for new buildings:

• Baden-Württemberg (Solar obligation starts in 2022)
• Berlin (Solar obligation begins in 2023)
• Brandenburg (Solar obligation start: planned for 2024)
• Bremen (start date of solar obligation not yet known)
• Hamburg (Solar obligation begins in 2023)
• Lower Saxony (Solar energy obligation begins in 2023 for businesses / 2025 for private individuals)
• North Rhine-Westphalia (Solar energy obligation begins in 2024 for businesses / 2025 for private individuals)
• Rhineland-Palatinate (Solar obligation starts in 2023)
• Schleswig-Holstein (draft law on mandatory solar panels, planned for 2025)

Introduction of a solar carport requirement / obligation to install a solar parking space canopy for new open parking spaces above a certain size:

• Baden-Württemberg (Solar carport obligation starting in 2022)
• Lower Saxony (Solar obligation start: 2023)
• North Rhine-Westphalia (Solar carport obligation starting in 2022)
• Rhineland-Palatinate (Solar carport obligation starting in 2023)
• Schleswig-Holstein (draft law on mandatory solar carports, planned for 2025)

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A solar power system consists of solar modules mounted on a support structure (mounting system/substructure for solar modules). The solar power system produces direct current (DC), which is converted into alternating current (AC) via inverters and fed into the electrical grid and/or the home's electrical network.

In short, a solar power system offers significant financial advantages. Even though the initial costs are very high, the savings on electricity bills from using self-generated power will be significantly offset in the future by the increased consumption of numerous electronic devices and the anticipated rise in e-mobility. Furthermore, increasingly sophisticated energy storage systems allow the electricity to be stored for later use, potentially enabling it to be sold to third parties as an additional source of income.

The foundation and essential element of every solar power system is the supporting structure. This includes the substructures for various rooftop systems and roof types such as flat or pitched roofs, as well as the mounting systems for ground-mounted and open-field systems, also known as solar parks. And let's not forget solar carport systems!

Company parking lots, parking garages, supermarkets, shopping centers and all larger ones such as Park & ​​Ride parking lots are affected by where the solar obligation will apply in the future for the respective federal state.

A distinction is made between new private and commercial buildings, residential and non-residential buildings, as well as roof renovations and open parking lots. Solar panel requirements are not the same in every federal state. Because solar installations on buildings affect building regulations, this falls under state jurisdiction. Furthermore, electricity generation is subject to various regulations, as solar power is a commodity subject to corresponding taxes.

Solar building obligation (also solar obligation) refers to regulations by municipalities and federal states in Germany that require owners of new and existing buildings to install solar thermal or photovoltaic systems for climate protection reasons. If only the installation of photovoltaic systems is mandated, it is also referred to as photovoltaic obligation.

Roofers, electricians, and solar installers are in demand when it comes to providing the know-how and infrastructure for this enormous task.

Xpert.Solar relies on solar mounting systems from solar experts, offering quality and value for money!

Mounting systems are the foundation of all solar installations. Without them, solar modules cannot be professionally installed. They must be able to withstand all weather conditions and regional weather patterns.

However, there are also differences in the mounting systems. For example, the mounting substructures for pitched roofs, flat roofs, or open-field installations differ and must meet different requirements, such as withstanding different loads.

Furthermore, there are always specific applications and tasks that cannot be covered by standard solutions. These include, for example, pitched roofs with bitumen or membrane coverings that do not allow for invasive fastening. This means that no drilling may be carried out on the roof and the solution must be installed without penetrating the roof (non-invasively).

Suitable for:

• Roof penetration-free cross-rail system for pitched roofs (5°-30°) with bitumen or foil covering

Another area of ​​focus is solar carports. While single and double carports with photovoltaics can still be considered a standard solution (although structural differences in the main and ancillary buildings sometimes necessitate custom solutions), individual solutions are always required for row carports. This starts with the different access routes, varying layouts, and differences in the individual driveways.

Suitable for:

• More green electricity from solar carports – The solar charging station of the future
• Solar carports with energy storage as solar charging stations for electric cars

This overview is currently being compiled and will be constantly updated! The developments in Germany.

• In 2006, Waiblingen was the first city in Germany to introduce a solar panel requirement for new buildings.
• Based on a 2018 city council resolution, the city of Tübingen acquires newly developed plots of land using an interim acquisition model. Upon resale, the buyer is obligated to install a photovoltaic system. The city also utilizes this model in urban development contracts. This solar building obligation applies to private, commercial, and public buildings.
• Following a municipal council resolution of December 16, 2019, the city of Amberg intends to introduce a requirement for photovoltaic systems in future development plans as part of a concept for sustainable building.
• A 2008 "Solar Building Obligation Statute" of the city of Marburg, which included penalties for violations, was declared invalid by the Administrative Court of Gießen in May 2010. A new regulation, effective July 1, 2011, was prevented by the amended Hessian Building Code.

Details regarding the solar parking space requirement / solar carport requirement