Is there a solar obligation in Hesse?

Published on: April 5, 2021 / Updated on: July 13, 2021 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Several German states have already introduced mandatory solar panel installations. In Baden-Württemberg, it will take effect in 2022, and in Berlin and Hamburg in 2023. Other states, such as Bremen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein, are already quite far along, and it is only a matter of time before the solar panel mandate is implemented there as well. Hesse currently has no plans to introduce a solar panel mandate.

Runkel Castle in Hesse – Image: Norbert Frommelt & Save nature and wildlife | Shutterstock.com

What is the current electricity consumption in Hesse?

Hesse, with approximately 6.3 million inhabitants, is the fifth largest state in Germany. In terms of area, Hesse, at around 21,116 km², is in the middle range compared to other German states. Frankfurt am Main is Hesse's largest city, while Wiesbaden is the state capital.

The share of renewable energy (gross electricity generation) in Hesse was just over 43% in 2017 and 48% in 2018. By the end of 2020, renewable energies had overtaken conventional energy sources. Wind energy made the largest contribution among renewables in 2019, accounting for 52%.

Share of energy sources in gross electricity generation in Hesse – Image: Xpert.Digital

However, Hesse is a federal state that does not produce all of its own electricity. This means that in 2019, Hesse obtained more than half, or around 52 percent, of its gross electricity consumption from other federal states or from abroad.

This also explains why, in 2017, of the just over 43% of renewable energy generated in the state, 100% was also consumed within the state, yet it still only accounted for 20.3% of total electricity consumption. By the end of 2020, renewable energy sources made up almost 25% of energy consumption in Hesse.

electricity generation from renewable energy sources without a solar obligation was divided as follows:

• 52% wind power
• 21% solar
• 11% biogas
• 6% biomass (solid)
• 6% biogenic content of the waste
• 3% hydropower
• 1% sewage gas

Source: IE-Leipzig 2020; HMWEVW (Hessian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport and Housing)

What is the current state of solar energy development in Hesse?

From 2004 to 2008, the installed PV capacity in Hesse increased by 55 MW annually, which corresponds to approximately 5,500 solar installations per year. From 2009 to 2012, the expansion of solar installations increased fivefold by 285 MW annually, or approximately 13,000 PV installations per year. A change in the EEG surcharge resulted in only 154 MW of solar installations being installed in 2013 and 103 MW in 2014.

2016-02-04 Tarek Al-Wazir – MdL Hessen – 3647-2 , Photo: Sven Teschke / License: Creative Commons CC-by-sa-3.0 de , CC BY-SA 3.0 DE

Speaking for the Hessian state government, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Tarek Al-Wazir said: “We have made further progress with the energy transition in Hesse: Renewable energies now contribute 50 percent to Hesse's electricity generation. This is also due to wind energy, the expansion of which, although it plummeted in 2019 due to misguided federal policy decisions, is slowly recovering. In Hesse, we have set the right course: with the designation of priority areas for wind energy and the new administrative regulation on nature conservation and wind energy.” Al-Wazir also pointed to the ongoing boom in photovoltaics: “The Hessian solar cadastre, which has now been used by more than 300,000 citizens, has given a boost to the expansion of PV. This is extremely important: because renewable electricity is needed to successfully implement the heat transition. With a special program for single-family homes, comprehensive advice from the state energy agency, and the heat transition guidelines, we are therefore supporting municipalities and citizens in the heat transition.”

How can the suitability for a solar power system be checked?

Since 2016, every one of Hesse's five million roofs and open spaces can be checked online for its suitability for a solar power system. The Hesse solar cadastre not only considers physical factors such as tilt angle and shading, but also calculates the economic viability of a system for a wide range of consumption profiles and technical variations, such as combining a solar power system with a battery storage system or an electric vehicle.

The data comes from the official land register with its approximately five million buildings, from 5,600 digital aerial photographs and a comprehensive high-resolution laser scan of Hesse from an airplane with at least four recording points per square meter.

Suitable for this

• Solar cadastre Hesse

Interesting figures on topics including the economy, infrastructure, energy and the environment in Hesse

Important note: The PDF is password protected.
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German version – To see the PDF, please click on the image below.
German Version – To view the PDF, please click on the image below.

Hesse – PDF Download

🢂 We will keep you updated on further developments in Hesse here!

Viessmann tweeted about this article:

Will Hesse follow Baden-Württemberg (from 2022), Berlin and Hamburg (from 2023) in introducing a solar panel mandate ? What exactly is the state planning and how will renewable electricity influence energy transition https://t.co/vKCPrVqR7A

— Viessmann (@Viessmann) April 7, 2021

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