Berlin expands state subsidy for balcony power plants

The State of Berlin is expanding its support for so-called balcony power plants.

For this small-scale use of solar energy, owners of owner-occupied residential property and tenants of recreational gardens and allotments will in future also be able to apply for a 500 euro subsidy to buy a plug-in solar device. This was announced by the responsible Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises. Previously, only renters had been eligible to apply.

Target: "25 percent of solar power made in Berlin".

The program is being implemented in cooperation with Investitionsbank Berlin. "We are working for a climate-neutral Berlin and are consistently pushing ahead with solar expansion," said Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) in a statement. Only with the involvement and support of Berliners can the goal of achieving climate neutrality in the city before 2045 be achieved, she said. "25 percent of solar power Made in Berlin is our target andevery roof counts, every balcony and every gazebo."

About 3000 grants for balcony power plants approved since Feburary

4863 new solar systems were installed in Berlin in the first half of 2023, which is already more than in the entire previous year. Since February, about 3000 grants for balcony power plants had already been approved. In 2022, 3700 solar systems with a capacity of 32.9 megawatts peak were newly installed. The solar power share thus rose to 3.5 percent in Berlin.