Berlin Solar Law – Berlin Senate decides on climate protection with photovoltaics

Published on: March 16, 2021 / Update from: March 16, 2021 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Berlin Solar Law – Solarcity Master Plan – Image: canadastock|Shutterstock.com

On March 2, 2021, the Senate passed the draft of the Berlin Solar Law upon presentation by the Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, Ramona Pop, after the Council of Mayors approved it on February 18, 2021. The draft law will now be submitted to the House of Representatives for discussion and resolution.

Berlin wants to make better use of the large solar potential in order to achieve the goal of covering 25 percent of Berlin's electricity needs from solar energy by 2050 at the latest. The CO2 savings within five years will amount to around 37,000 tons per year. The law thus makes an important contribution to climate protection. In addition, regional added value is boosted.

Senator Ramona Pop: “With our solar law, solar will be mandatory for all new buildings and for existing buildings with fundamental roof renovations from 2023. Berlin has a lot of roofs and therefore a lot of potential for solar energy. We want to use this because Berlin needs more photovoltaic systems in order to become climate neutral. With the solar law, we are making Berlin a role model for other states and municipalities when it comes to climate protection and energy transition.”

The solar obligation should apply from January 1, 2023. The installation and operation of photovoltaic systems is then mandatory for new buildings and existing buildings in which the roof is significantly modified and with a usable building area of ​​more than 50 square meters. New buildings must cover at least 30 percent of their gross roof area and existing buildings must cover at least 30 percent of their net roof area with photovoltaic systems. For existing buildings, however, the installed power must not exceed three kilowatts for residential buildings with a maximum of two apartments and six kilowatts for residential buildings with more than two apartments and non-residential buildings. This ensures that other roof uses remain possible. Extensive green roofs can be easily combined with photovoltaic systems.

The Solar Act also provides for exceptions, for example if the roof faces north or if the construction of a system is technically impossible in individual cases. Instead of photovoltaic systems on the roof, solar thermal systems or facade PV systems can also be built. If, in an individual case, the obligation would lead to unreasonable hardship due to special circumstances due to unreasonable effort or in some other way, an exemption can be applied for.

The proposed law goes hand in hand with the implementation of the Solarcity master plan – a diverse package of measures to accelerate solar expansion. For this purpose, nine fields of action with a total of 27 measures were defined. The fields of action range from improving framework conditions for solar energy, providing free information and advice, support through funding programs and incentives, as well as strengthening market players such as crafts and architecture, through to the creation of educational opportunities in the field of solar energy. Further information is available on the Solarwende Berlin .