Germany's Solar Peak Act: What Applies to PV Systems, Storage and Balcony Power Plants?
, By NeueEnergie24, 9 min reading time
Since 25 February 2025, Germany's Solar Peak Act (Solarspitzengesetz) has applied to new PV systems. We explain feed-in remuneration during negative prices, the 60 percent limit and the exemption for plug-in solar devices.
Summary: In Germany, the Solar Peak Act (Solarspitzengesetz) has applied since 25 February 2025 to newly commissioned photovoltaic systems. It is meant to prevent too much solar power from being pushed into the grid at midday, when there is a surplus there anyway. For operators of new systems, this mainly means: no remuneration during periods of negative exchange electricity prices and a feed-in limit of 60 percent as long as no smart metering system with a control box has been installed. Plug-in solar devices (balcony power plants) within the statutory limits are exempt from these obligations. A battery storage system and self-consumption gain importance as a result.
As of October 2026, not legal or tax advice. The statutory texts and the information provided by your grid operator are authoritative. This article covers the legal situation and market rules in Germany only.
What is the Solar Peak Act about?
On sunny days, many photovoltaic systems generate electricity at the same time, so that supply on the power exchange temporarily exceeds demand. Exchange electricity prices can then turn negative. The Solar Peak Act therefore amends the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, EEG) so that new systems are operated in a way that is better matched to the grid. According to the Verbraucherzentrale (German consumer advice centre), it has applied since 25 February 2025 to systems commissioned from that cut-off date onwards. Existing systems are not automatically affected.
The most important rules at a glance
1. No remuneration during negative exchange electricity prices
Section 51 EEG provides: in periods in which the spot market price is negative, the payment entitlement is reduced to zero. The Verbraucherzentrale points out that the periods lost are added to the original remuneration period, so operators do not permanently go empty-handed. For systems commissioned on or after 25 February 2025, this rule takes effect from 1 January 2026 according to the Verbraucherzentrale, provided a smart metering system and a control box are installed.
2. Feed-in limit of 60 percent
Under Section 9 (2) EEG, certain systems must limit their maximum active power feed-in at the grid connection point to 60 percent of the installed capacity until a smart metering system including a control device has been installed and successfully tested. The Verbraucherzentrale summarises it for new systems as follows:
- New systems of 7 kWp or more that are commissioned from 25 February 2025 onwards require a smart metering system and a control device.
- If these are missing, the feed-in power must be limited to 60 percent.
- Below 7 kWp there is no obligation to install a metering system and control box, but the 60 percent limit still applies as long as both are missing.
Important: the 60 percent refers to the feed-in into the grid, not to the generation. Electricity that you consume or store yourself is not curtailed by this.
3. Exemption for plug-in solar devices
According to Section 9 EEG, the obligations regarding controllability and feed-in limitation do not apply to plug-in solar devices with a total installed capacity of up to 2 kilowatts and a total inverter capacity of up to 800 volt-amperes that are operated behind the withdrawal point of a final consumer. The Bundesnetzagentur (German Federal Network Agency) describes the same limits for plug-in solar devices: a maximum of 2,000 watts of module capacity and 800 VA of inverter capacity. The decisive factor is the highest adjustable output: a device with a selectable 900 VA does not fall under the special rules even if it is operated throttled.
Which system is affected and how?
| System type | What applies (simplified) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plug-in solar device up to 2,000 Wp modules and 800 VA inverter | Exempt from controllability and the 60 percent limit | Section 9 (1) and (2) EEG; Bundesnetzagentur |
| New rooftop system below 7 kWp, commissioned from 25.02.2025 | No mandatory installation of a metering system and control box; without both, 60 percent limit | Verbraucherzentrale, Section 9 (2) EEG |
| New system of 7 kWp or more, commissioned from 25.02.2025 | Smart metering system and control device required; until then, 60 percent limit | Verbraucherzentrale, Section 9 (2) EEG |
| Existing system commissioned before the cut-off date | The rules of the Solar Peak Act generally do not apply automatically; a voluntary switch is possible | Verbraucherzentrale |
The exact thresholds depend on the commissioning date, system size and type of remuneration. If in doubt, ask your grid operator or your qualified electrician.
What does this mean in practice?
Self-consumption moves into focus
If feed-in is at times not remunerated and may be limited, it is worth looking at self-consumption. The more solar power is used in your own household, the less you depend on the feed-in rules. Typical levers are shifting loads to the midday hours, an energy management system and a storage unit.
Battery storage as a buffer
According to the Verbraucherzentrale, a battery storage system can reduce the periods of unpaid feed-in because it is charged during times of negative prices. The stored electricity can be used later. The Verbraucherzentrale also points out that conditions apply to a later remunerated feed-in of the stored electricity, for example that only solar power is stored. Have the metering concept explained to you before installation. In our battery storage category you will find storage systems from various manufacturers, and matching hybrid and string technology can be found under inverters.
At the same time, the Verbraucherzentrale urges sobriety: providers sometimes calculate with overly optimistic electricity price increases, and oversized storage units age faster and bring hardly any additional self-consumption. A rule of thumb from the Verbraucherzentrale is about 1.5 kilowatt-hours of storage capacity per 1,000 kilowatt-hours of annual consumption.
Balcony power plants: hardly any changes
If you operate a plug-in solar device within the limits, you will hardly notice the Solar Peak Act. The following still applies: the device must be registered in the Marktstammdatenregister (German market master data register) of the Bundesnetzagentur, and a separate notification to the grid operator no longer applies since the Solarpaket I (a German legislative package). You can find matching sets under balcony power plants with storage and balcony power plants without storage; storage systems such as those from the Zendure brand are grouped in the Zendure SolarFlow category.
A calculation example for the 60 percent limit
The limit refers to the installed capacity at the grid connection point. For a system with 10 kilowatt-peak, 60 percent means a calculated maximum feed-in power of 6 kilowatts. If the system produces more at midday, the surplus must either be consumed in the house, stored or curtailed. The electricity that your household consumes at the same time does not count as feed-in. The more appliances run at midday, such as water heating, a washing machine or an electric car, the lower the curtailment. How you can use surplus solar power for heat is explained in our article Combining a heat pump and photovoltaics.
How to tell whether your system is affected
- When was or will the system be commissioned? 25 February 2025 is the cut-off date named by the Verbraucherzentrale.
- How large is the installed capacity? According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the threshold of 7 kilowatt-peak determines the obligation to have a smart metering system.
- Is the system a plug-in solar device with at most 2 kilowatts of module capacity and 800 volt-amperes of inverter capacity? Then the exemptions under Section 9 EEG apply.
- Is electricity fed in and remunerated, or do you consume it entirely yourself? The remuneration rules only affect the electricity fed in.
Because the details depend on your individual case, it is worth checking with your grid operator or your installation company.
What happens next?
According to the Verbraucherzentrale (as of 1 August 2026), a ministerial draft for a new EEG from 2027 is available, which among other things is intended to change the existing 20-year fixed remuneration. This is a draft and has not yet been adopted. Systems that are still commissioned in 2026 fall under the existing rules according to the current state of affairs. Before making a purchase, therefore, check the current legal situation.
Checklist before buying
- Note the commissioning date and the planned system size (kWp).
- Ask the grid operator whether and when a smart metering system will be installed.
- Check whether the inverter and storage unit support power limitation and energy management.
- Register the system and storage unit in the Marktstammdatenregister; for storage units, according to the Verbraucherzentrale, notification to the grid operator still applies.
- If you are unsure, involve a qualified electrician or an energy consultant.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Solar Peak Act also apply to my balcony power plant?
According to Section 9 EEG, plug-in solar devices up to 2,000 Wp of module capacity and 800 VA of inverter capacity are exempt from the obligations regarding controllability and the 60 percent limit. Registration in the Marktstammdatenregister remains mandatory.
Do I lose money during negative electricity prices?
For systems with a feed-in tariff, the remuneration is not paid in these periods, but according to the Verbraucherzentrale they are added to the remuneration period. Electricity you consume yourself is not affected.
Do I need a storage unit?
No, there is no obligation. A storage unit can increase self-consumption; whether it suits your consumption profile is something you should check based on your annual consumption.
What is a smart metering system?
A smart metering system is installed by the metering point operator under the rules of the Messstellenbetriebsgesetz (German Metering Point Operation Act). Via the associated control device (control box), the grid operator can remotely regulate the feed-in power under Section 9 EEG. Ask your metering point operator about the timing and procedure of the installation.
Sources
- Verbraucherzentrale: EEG 2023/24: Was heute für Photovoltaik-Anlagen gilt (as of 1 August 2026)
- Gesetze im Internet: § 9 EEG 2023 and § 51 EEG 2023
- Bundesnetzagentur: Balkon-Solaranlagen
- Verbraucherzentrale: Lohnen sich Batteriespeicher für Photovoltaik-Anlagen? (as of 2 July 2026)
Do you have questions about storage systems, inverters or balcony power plants? We are happy to advise you by email: kontakt@energie24.shop.
As of October 2026, not legal or tax advice.