What to do? Funding for old photovoltaic systems is expiring

Published on: September 25, 2020 / update from: September 25, 2020 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Anyone who put a photovoltaic system into operation in Germany before 2001 is now faced with a difficult decision: What should happen to the electricity from next year? Because then these systems will no longer be eligible for EEG funding. Those affected should carefully examine initial offers from suppliers and wait for the upcoming legal regulations, is the advice of the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center.

What to do? Funding for old photovoltaic systems is expiring – Image: @shutterstock|alaj

Anyone who put a photovoltaic system into operation in Germany before 2001 is now faced with a difficult decision: What should happen to the electricity from next year? Because then these systems will no longer be eligible for EEG funding. Those affected should carefully examine initial offers from suppliers and wait for the upcoming legal regulations, is the advice of the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center.

The guaranteed EEG remuneration for electricity from photovoltaic systems expires on December 31, 2020, and the network operator no longer has to purchase the energy. A follow-up regulation, especially for small over-20 systems, has not yet been decided, but is still being negotiated in the German Bundestag. Nevertheless, a deadline runs until November 30th - by then at the latest the network operator must find out in what form electricity will continue to be fed in in 2021.

What should I do with my photovoltaic system?
Above all, the motto is: keep calm. There are initial offers from energy suppliers to purchase electricity in the future. In most cases, reservations are currently only possible. However, those affected should check the conditions calmly and wait for the upcoming legal regulations. Nothing can happen - in the worst case, operators can simply switch off their system temporarily on New Year's Eve using the switch in the fuse box.

Should I check my photovoltaic system for possible continued operation?
Is the system actually fit for continued operation, i.e. safe and efficient? This question should be clarified before a decision is made. A safety inspection by a specialist company costs around 250 to 300 euros. If it doesn't work out well, a new system with self-supply can also be an alternative. For these, EEG remuneration will then flow again for 20 years - although at currently around 9 cents per kilowatt hour, significantly less than before.

Is my photovoltaic insurance still worth it?
What is no longer worthwhile is special photovoltaic insurance. Operators can cancel existing policies at the end of the insurance year and include the system in the building insurance in the future for a small additional charge.

Is self-consumption of my photovoltaic system an option?
Consuming the electricity from the roof itself reduces your electricity bill. But converting from full feed-in to self-consumption can be complex, and the additional costs are not always worth it. High electricity consumption in the household and an old system with at least 3.5 kW output are good prerequisites for an economic result. But ultimately it has to be examined carefully in each individual case to see what is worthwhile.

Should I sell the electricity from my photovoltaic system?
The direct marketing currently provided for by law as the only option for feeding in from old systems is not economical for small systems. As an alternative, there are initial offers from energy suppliers to purchase electricity for a fee of a few cents per kilowatt hour if an electricity supply contract is concluded with the provider at the same time. That sounds comfortable, but it also means a commitment to the company and its tariffs. In any case, system operators should wait for the new legal regulations before making a decision.

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