Rooftop solar on housing blocks could cover over a quarter of new capacity by 2030 – researchers
Clean Energy Wire
Solar power systems installed on the roofs of residential blocks in Germany could provide up to 28 percent of the additional solar capacity needed to meet the country’s 2030 climate targets, found a report by government-funded research project Ariadne. The rooftops of housing blocks have largely been underutilised, the researchers found. Most of the record levels of installed capacity in 2024 came from the expansion of rooftop systems on single- and two-family homes, as well as large ground-mounted systems.
The report assessed the economic viability of building and tenant electricity projects and found that high administrative requirements, short contract terms, and complex processing procedures make implementation difficult. The authors therefore recommended standardising metering and billing processes and simplifying regulatory requirements.
They also stressed the importance of smart meters to ensure that solar systems on blocks of flats can be smoothly integrated into the grid. Similarly, they concluded that incentives for households in these buildings to participate in solar power projects should also be increased.
Economy minister Katherina Reiche has proposed to lower some of Germany’s targets for renewables after the publication of a “reality check” monitoring report on the energy transition in September. Although the minister has not yet recommended cuts to solar capacity targets, she aims to abolish support for roof-mounted installations, which according to solar power industry representatives would effectively cut growth.
A recent analysis by energy company Enpal found that decentralised renewable energy sources and storage solutions, which would include rooftop solar systems, can lead to billions of euros in savings and additional value creation for Germany over the next two decades. Renewable energy installations in Germany covered almost 57 percent of gross power demand in the first three quarters of 2025, with solar capacity increasing by nearly one quarter thanks to a high expansion level in the previous year.
