Berlin and Brandenburg's Balcony Power Plant surge persists, with more citizens adopting rooftop solar panels for energy production. - The surge in rooftop power stations in Berlin and Brandenburg experiences a decline.
In a continuing boom, photovoltaics, including small-scale balcony systems, are rapidly expanding throughout Germany, supported by falling costs and policy targets. Whilst specific data on the increase in balcony power plants in Berlin and Brandenburg over the past year is not explicitly provided, it is reasonable to conclude that these regions have experienced growth in balcony PV installations in line with national trends.
By mid-year 2023, around 35,600 units of privately installed solar panels were reported in Brandenburg, with the number increasing by more than a third. However, the actual number of balcony power plants in Brandenburg is not yet known, though it may be slightly higher due to a one-month grace period for late registrations.
Berlin, as a dense city-state, likely has seen notable growth in small and balcony PV plants as part of urban energy transition and citizen adoption. As of June 30, approximately 19,300 balcony power plants have been installed in Berlin, marking an almost 35% increase in the first half of the year. Despite this growth, Berlin's renewable energy share is still low compared to Brandenburg.
Brandenburg, being more rural and with more open space, may have a higher share of larger ground-mounted PV but also likely supports balcony installations in urbanized areas. In Brandenburg, more than half of the fed-in electricity comes from renewable sources, with wind power playing a crucial role in its renewable energy production.
Other city-states like Hamburg and Bremen also promote decentralized solar generation, but no direct comparative growth rates or installation numbers are provided. Hamburg’s architectural community is active, which may influence the integration of balcony PV in new builds.
Both regions have institutional support for climate and energy goals, as evidenced by Brandenburg's scientific climate council advising on climate targets. This likely promotes renewable initiatives including balcony PV.
It's worth noting that in 2023, Germany installed about 14.6 GWp of new PV capacity, bringing the total to approximately 82 GWp across roughly 3.7 million systems. Photovoltaics contributed around 12% of gross electricity consumption in Germany, indicating strong growth and integration at all levels, including residential and balcony installations. Costs for small rooftop PV plants, which would include balconies, range from 11 to 13 ct/kWh, with further cost reductions expected, likely encouraging more installations in urban areas.
In Berlin, gas and coal remain the main energy carriers, despite the increase in solar installations. The share of renewable energies in Berlin and Brandenburg is increasing slowly, with Berlin's renewable energy share standing at 5.6% in the year 2024.
For those seeking detailed statistics or a more granular comparison, consulting specialized photovoltaic market reports or local energy authorities in Berlin and Brandenburg would be recommended.
Vocational training programs in EC countries could focus on renewable-energy technology to equip the workforce with skills needed for the expanding photovoltaics industry in regions like Berlin and Brandenburg. With finance being a key factor in the widespread adoption of renewable energy, strategies should be implemented to reduce costs, such as facilitating affordable vocational training in solar PV installation to foster more installations, particularly on balconies.
