What photovoltaic subsidies will be available in Germany in 2026? Here are all the current regulations for PV storage subsidies for households

What photovoltaic subsidies will be available in Germany in 2026? Here are all current regulations on PV storage subsidies for households.

Anyone investing in a photovoltaic system including a battery storage system in 2026 will encounter a market environment undergoing significant change. While bureaucratic hurdles have been reduced and tax breaks made permanent, the planned reforms of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) are already casting their shadow. For private households, it is now more important than ever: a clever combination of nationwide tariffs, low-interest loans, and regional grants will determine the profitability of the project.

This guide provides you with an up-to-date overview of the 2026 funding landscape and shows which funding pots you can combine.

What photovoltaic funding is currently available?

State support for private solar power systems is essentially based on three pillars: tax advantages, state-subsidized loans, and the classic feed-in tariff.

A major lever for economic viability is the still stable zero tax rate. Private PV systems up to 30 kWp and the associated electricity storage units are completely exempt from VAT (19%). Since this tax rate is set to 0% directly by the dealer at the time of purchase, the bureaucratic detour via the tax office is eliminated. The earnings from the operation of such small systems are also completely exempt from income tax for private individuals.

An important distinction concerns the type of system: purely off-grid systems – i.e. self-sufficient systems without any connection to the public power grid – usually receive no state subsidies. In contrast, plug-in balcony power plants are very popular: for these mini solar systems, numerous municipalities grant uncomplicated regional subsidies, which usually range between 50 and 500 euros.

Funding through feed-in tariffs: Current rates and the planned reform

The feed-in tariff under the EEG guarantees system operators a fixed cent amount per kilowatt-hour for the electricity they do not consume themselves but feed into the public grid. After activation, this rate remains constant for 20 years plus the year of commissioning.

Current funding rates (Valid from February 1 to July 31, 2026)

The remuneration amount is adjusted degressively and decreases by one percent every six months. The Federal Network Agency has set the following rates for the current period:

Maximum system output	Remuneration for partial feed-in	Remuneration for full feed-in
0 to 10 kWp	7.78 ct/kWh	12.34 ct/kWh
10 to 40 kWp	6.73 ct/kWh	10.35 ct/kWh
40 to 100 kWp	5.50 ct/kWh	10.35 ct/kWh

Note on calculation: Systems over 10 kWp are remunerated proportionally. A 15 kWp system receives the higher rate for the first 10 kWp and the reduced rate for the remaining 5 kWp. The next automatic reduction (to approx. 7.71 ct/kWh for partial feed-in up to 10 kWp) will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Important: Suspension in case of negative exchange prices

The so-called "Solarspitzengesetz" (Solar Peak Act) has been in force since February 2025. Anyone newly registering their system will no longer receive a feed-in tariff during hours when the electricity price on the exchange falls into negative territory. However, the lost periods will be added at the end of the 20-year term. This increases the economic pressure to use the generated electricity oneself via a battery storage system or to control it intelligently.

Outlook for 2027 – The draft reform: The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action is planning far-reaching changes. According to current working drafts, the fixed feed-in tariff for new systems up to 25 kWp is to be completely abolished from January 1, 2027. Private operators would then be obliged to market their surplus directly or opt for zero feed-in. However, systems commissioned in 2026 are subject to unrestricted grandfathering.

KfW 270: The state loan for PV systems and storage

Those who do not want to cover the investment costs entirely from their own capital can resort to the nationwide funding program KfW 270 ("Renewable Energies – Standard"). The Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau finances up to 100% of the eligible costs – from the modules to the inverter to the battery storage and installation costs.

The loan terms can be flexibly designed and are closely linked to interest rate fixed-period terms:

• Up to 5 years: Maximum 1 repayment-free year, fixed interest rate for the entire term.

• Up to 10 years: Maximum 2 repayment-free years, fixed interest rate for the entire term.

• Up to 15 years: Maximum 3 repayment-free years, fixed interest rate for the entire term.

• Up to 20 years: Maximum 3 repayment-free years, fixed interest rate for the first 10 years or the entire term.

• Up to 30 years: Maximum 5 repayment-free years, fixed interest rate for the first 10 years.

The effective annual interest rate is based on the capital market and the applicant's creditworthiness. The application must be made before the purchase of the system through your own bank or a financing partner.

Overview of photovoltaic subsidies from the federal states

While the federal government sets the tax framework, some federal states offer their own dedicated funding programs in the form of grants or low-interest state loans:

• Berlin (SolarPLUS): The capital city shines with tangible grants of up to 30,000 euros, primarily for storage and PV systems on listed buildings, green roofs, or facades. Preparatory roof assessments are also subsidized.

• Baden-Württemberg (L-Bank): Through the "Wohnen mit Zukunft" (Living with a Future) program, low-interest promotional loans are issued for the construction and modernization of PV systems.

• Bremen: The "Photovoltaik nach Plan" (Photovoltaics by Plan) program offers low-interest loans of up to 50,000 euros for solar systems and electricity storage (inverter output over 800 watts).

• Hamburg: The Hanseatic city focuses on combining nature and technology. It subsidizes the substructure of PV systems on green roofs with up to 50 euros per square meter of module area.

• Saxony (Sachsenkredit Energie und Speicher): Here, low-interest loans are available for systems from 30 kWp, including attractive repayment subsidies of up to 20% of the eligible amount.

Status in the other federal states: In Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia, there are currently no direct grant programs at the state level for private standard PV systems. Here, municipal funding is primarily used.

Solar funding from cities and municipalities: The regional goldmines

Since many federal states do not pay direct grants, the municipalities have taken over. Many cities and municipalities replenish their climate protection funds annually to create local incentives. Significant financial injections are sometimes possible here, which can be directly combined with the EEG remuneration.

Cities such as Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf are massively supporting the expansion. The grants are usually based on the installed capacity (euros per kWp) or offer flat rates for the purchase of an electricity storage unit. Depending on the project size and local guidelines, three-digit or even four-digit funding amounts are possible at the peak.

Important practical tip: Municipal funding is almost always tied to a fixed budget. If the budget for the current year is exhausted, the program is temporarily stopped. In addition, the strict planning requirement applies here too: first wait for the city's funding decision, then commission the tradesman.

Conclusion: Speed pays off

The funding year 2026 offers excellent conditions but is marked by change. The 0% VAT rate immediately saves households cash on purchase. Anyone who commissions the system before the current EEG deadlines expire secures the fixed feed-in tariff for the next two decades and avoids the risk of the direct marketing obligation planned for 2027. To ensure no cent is missed, the first step towards a new solar system should always be through the official federal funding database and a look at the website of your local council.