Germany is making significant progress in developing renewable energy sources. The German Federal Statistical Office—Statistisches Bundesamt—confirmed this by providing data on solar energy capacity.
As reported, in April 2024, about 3.4 million solar systems were installed on rooftops and parcels in Germany, with a total maximum capacity of approximately 81,500 megawatts. Compared to the same month in 2023, the number of systems increased by 29.8 percent, while the installed capacity grew by 20.5 percent.
This data includes nearly all solar installations contributing to public power grids and equipped with electricity meters that measure the amount of power generated. However, the statistics do not include smaller installations, such as so-called balcony solar systems. For clarification, these solar systems are designed for use in private households and are typically installed on balconies or small yards.
The success of these solar systems is truly remarkable, as evidenced by the record-breaking growth in solar-generated energy within the total electricity production. Last year, an astounding 53 million megawatt-hours of electricity were fed into the grid from solar sources, making up an impressive 11.9 percent of total production.
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Import, Export, and Production
Germany recorded a significant decline in solar system imports during the first five months of 2024. Specifically, from January to May, the value of imported solar cells and modules decreased by 66 percent, and the value of solar system exports also dropped by about 64 percent.
In 2023, China was Germany’s leading source of imports, accounting for 86.4 percent of the total. In comparison, the Netherlands and Vietnam followed with 5.4 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively, representing significantly smaller import shares. As for exports, most were to European countries, with Australia at the forefront with 17.8 percent, followed by Italy with 11.4 percent and Switzerland with 9 percent.
Germany also experienced a significant decline in the production of solar modules in the first quarter of 2024, dropping by over 50 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Additionally, the production of solar collectors decreased by around 67 percent.
Energy Portal
