Solar panels mandatory in North Rhine-Westphalia? North Rhine-Westphalia – The current status – New: Solar carport solar panel obligation

Published on: March 17, 2021 / Updated on: September 6, 2022 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Solar panels mandatory in North Rhine-Westphalia? – What you should know now

Photovoltaic systems mandatory in North Rhine-Westphalia? – This should interest you – Image: Xpert.Digital & Butusova Elena|Shutterstock.com

In 2019, over 16 percent of North Rhine-Westphalia's electricity consumption was supplied by renewable energy sources. This amount alone could completely power Bremen, Hamburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The solar cadastre of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV) calculated the solar potential of 68 terawatt-hours of electricity per year on the roofs of North Rhine-Westphalia. In reality, however, only 4.5 terawatts of solar power were generated using photovoltaics in 2019 – a meager 6.6 percent of the available potential.

Suitable for:

• The solar gold of 68 terawatt hours in North Rhine-Westphalia

Is there a legal requirement to install solar panels in North Rhine-Westphalia?

A statewide obligation to install photovoltaic systems on non-residential buildings, like those in Baden-Württemberg or the solar panel mandate in Berlin, will not be introduced in North Rhine-Westphalia. Nor will such a requirement apply to new residential buildings. The state government continues to rely on the voluntary participation of citizens and businesses. Building permits for photovoltaic systems are, after all, a matter for the individual states.

Solar panel requirement for solar carports “effective immediately” or from January 1, 2022

Photovoltaic systems are now mandatory for newly constructed open and commercial parking areas with more than 35 spaces in North Rhine-Westphalia. Parking areas belonging to residential buildings are exempt. According to the new state building code adopted on June 30, 2021, this applies to all building permit applications received by the building authority in North Rhine-Westphalia from January 1, 2022.

Suitable for:

• Planning and building a solar carport with electricity storage as a solar charging station for electric cars

Ina Scharrenbach (2017) , Ministry for Home Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Construction and Equality of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia , CC BY-SA 4.0

North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister for Construction, Inna Scharrenbach, announced this on December 2, 2020, in Düsseldorf. The aim is to ensure that "huge, naturally sealing concrete deserts – for example, in front of supermarkets – are at least linked to some benefit for society." These structures will also provide shade and help combat the summer "heat islands" in cities. "At the same time, charging stations for electric cars can also be installed," which is essentially a classic solar carport system acting as a solar charging station. "This is something new for us in North Rhine-Westphalia." These measures will be regulated by a legal ordinance. The planned amendment is part of a revision of the state building code, which is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2021, and which the state cabinet has already approved, Scharrenbach reported.

What is the right solar carport system?

Many good approaches already exist. But none are like the HELIOS Carport System from T.Werk GmbH in Ellzee. It is suitable for individual solar carports as well as for large company or public parking lots, can be flexibly used as an additional solar charging station, and, above all, is easy to plan.

Systematic planning seems to be T.Werk's guiding principle. As with all its products, T.Werk prioritizes high quality, quick assembly, and flexible application, which ultimately pays off. This is also true for the HELIOS carport from T.Werk, where planning reliability is paramount, preventing costly corrections and retrofits.

HELIOS carports are, in effect, smart city and smart grid ready . They offer a wide range of modular options. For whatever reason, the HELIOS carport is also available without a PV mounting system. It can therefore be used like a building block system. Charging stations, inverters, and other smart city and smart grid options are easy to install.

Single carport, double carport or row carport. For any number of even and odd rows of parking spaces.

More about it here:

• More green electricity from solar carports – Which solar carport system is best suited?
• Solar carports with energy storage as solar charging stations for electric cars

Are photovoltaic systems in North Rhine-Westphalia exempt from permitting requirements? Even on a voluntary basis?

• Photovoltaic systems on roofs or facades are exempt from permitting requirements in North Rhine-Westphalia, according to the state building code.
• For listed buildings or buildings with particularly valuable building fabric, consultation with the local building authority is required.
• Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems require a permit and a building permit. A building permit must be applied for in accordance with the North Rhine-Westphalia state building code.

🢂 We will keep you updated on further developments in North Rhine-Westphalia here!

With Xpert.Solar, we offer consulting services for companies planning a photovoltaic system for a flat or pitched roof – even without roof penetration!

• Plan photovoltaics for warehouses, commercial halls and industrial halls
• Industrial plant: Plan a photovoltaic open-air system or open-space system
• Plan solar systems with photovoltaic solutions for freight forwarding and contract logistics
• B2B solar systems and photovoltaic solutions & advice

• Planning solar carports

Why Xpert.Solar ?

Xpert.Solar is a project of Xpert.Digital. We have many years of experience in supporting and consulting for warehouse solutions and in logistics optimization, which we combine under the Xpert.Plus umbrella in a large network. With Xpert.Solar, we combine the same expertise in the field of photovoltaics and renewable energies.

If you wish, you can also access our extensive market research and market intelligence data in PDF format. Learn more .

Konrad Wolfenstein

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