German Rooftop Solar: Is the Feed-In Tariff Still Worth It?
If you own a workshop, a small shop or an office building in Germany, a rooftop solar system can still make a lot of sense. But the reason has changed. The feed-in tariff for selling surplus power is modest and falling, so the real value now comes from using your own solar electricity on site. This guide explains the current rates, the newer rules on negative prices and feed-in limits, and how to plan a system around self-consumption.
Key takeaways
- For new systems up to 10 kWp commissioned from 1 August 2026 to 31 January 2027, the feed-in tariff is about 7.7 cents per kWh for partial feed-in and about 12.2 cents for full feed-in.
- Rates fall by 1% every six months, with the next step on 1 February 2027. Check the Bundesnetzagentur for the official figures.
- Under the 2025 Solarspitzengesetz, new systems get no feed-in payment during periods of negative wholesale prices, and systems from 2 to 100 kWp without a smart meter may feed in only up to 60% of their capacity.
- Self-consumption, helped by a battery, a heat pump or EV charging, matters more than the tariff.
A few years ago, many people installed solar panels mainly to earn money from feeding power into the grid. That model has faded. Today the feed-in payment is better seen as a small bonus on top of the main benefit: every kilowatt hour you produce and use yourself is one you do not buy from your supplier. For a business that uses power during daylight hours, that can be a strong case.
This article is general information for small business owners, not tax, legal or financial advice. Solar rules, tax treatment and grid connection requirements are detailed and change over time, so speak with a qualified installer, a Steuerberater and your grid operator about your own building before you commit.
How the feed-in tariff works now
Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) sets a fixed payment, the Einspeisevergütung, for solar power you send to the grid. The rate you get is locked in based on when your system is commissioned and then paid for a fixed period.
Current rates for small systems
For new systems up to 10 kWp commissioned from 1 August 2026 to 31 January 2027, the rates are roughly:
- Partial feed-in (Teileinspeisung): about 7.7 cents per kWh. You use some of the power yourself and sell the surplus.
- Full feed-in (Volleinspeisung): about 12.2 cents per kWh. You send all the power to the grid and use none of it on site.
Larger systems have different rate bands, so ask your installer which rates apply to your planned size.
Rates fall every six months
The tariff drops by 1% every six months for newly commissioned systems. The next step is on 1 February 2027. The drop is small, so it is rarely worth rushing an installation just to beat the date, but it is worth knowing if your installer's timeline is close. Always check the Bundesnetzagentur for the official rates in force when your system goes live.
Pro tip
The commissioning date, not the order date, decides your rate. If timing matters to you, ask your installer for a realistic commissioning date in writing and what happens if delivery or grid connection is delayed.
The Solarspitzengesetz: two rules to know
In 2025, Germany passed the so-called Solarspitzengesetz (solar peak law) to ease pressure on the grid on very sunny days. Two rules matter most for new small business systems.
No payment during negative prices
New systems get no feed-in payment during periods when wholesale electricity prices are negative. These periods tend to happen when a lot of solar power floods the grid at the same time. The payment period is extended accordingly, so the hours you lose are added at the end. In practice, it means surplus power at midday on the sunniest days is worth less, which is another reason to use that power yourself.
The 60% feed-in limit without a smart meter
Systems from 2 to 100 kWp without a smart meter may feed in only up to 60% of their capacity. If your panels produce more than that at a given moment and you are not using it on site, the extra cannot go to the grid. The limit applies to systems without a smart meter, so the metering choice matters. Ask your installer and grid operator how this applies to your planned system and whether a smart meter is the right choice.
Common mistake
Sizing a system purely on roof space and the feed-in tariff. With lower rates, no payment during negative prices and a possible 60% cap, oversized systems can send a lot of power to the grid for very little. Size the system around what your business actually uses, especially during the day.
Why self-consumption is the real payoff
When you use your own solar power, you avoid buying that electricity from your supplier. For most businesses, the price you pay per kWh for grid electricity is well above the feed-in tariff, so every kWh used on site is worth more than every kWh sold. The question becomes: how much of your solar power can you use yourself?
Businesses that tend to fit well
- Daytime users. Workshops, bakeries, small manufacturers, offices and shops that run equipment, lights, refrigeration or air conditioning during daylight hours.
- Businesses with vehicles. If you charge company EVs on site, charging during sunny hours soaks up surplus power.
- Buildings with heat pumps. A heat pump can use solar power, especially in spring and autumn. Our guide on heating options for small premises compares the choices.
- Mixed home and work buildings. A household and a business under one roof can spread usage across the day.
Ways to raise your self-consumption
- Map your usage. Pull a year of electricity bills and, if possible, your load profile from your supplier or meter. Note when you use the most power.
- Shift flexible loads. Run dishwashers, washing machines, compressors, kilns or charging during the sunniest hours where your work allows.
- Consider a battery. A battery stores midday surplus for the late afternoon or evening. Ask for the numbers both with and without one, because a battery adds cost.
- Add smart controls. Timers, smart plugs and energy management systems can switch loads on when the panels are producing.
- Plan for EV charging or a heat pump. Even if they come later, design the system so they can be added easily.
A simple solar planning template
Copy this table into a spreadsheet to compare system options. All figures below are made-up examples for illustration only. Replace them with your installer's estimates and your own electricity price.
| Option | Size (example) | Yearly output (example) | Used on site (example) | Fed to grid (example) | Installed price (example) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Panels only | 9 kWp | 8,500 kWh | 40% | 60% | €14,000 | Lots of midday surplus |
| B: Panels plus battery | 9 kWp | 8,500 kWh | 65% | 35% | €20,000 | Covers late afternoon |
| C: Smaller panels only | 6 kWp | 5,700 kWh | 55% | 45% | €10,000 | Fits daytime load more closely |
Then add two columns: "yearly value of self-use" (kWh used on site times your grid electricity price) and "yearly feed-in income" (kWh fed to the grid times the tariff). Add them together and compare the total with the installed price to see the rough payback time for each option.
Hypothetical example
Imagine Jonas, who runs a small carpentry workshop near Freiburg. His saws, dust extraction and lighting run mostly between 8:00 and 17:00 on weekdays. His installer first suggests filling the whole roof, but Jonas uses the template and sees that much of the extra power would go to the grid at a low rate, and some midday surplus could hit the 60% limit. He chooses a smaller system matched to his daytime load and plans wiring for an EV charger next year. His feed-in income is modest, but most of his solar power replaces electricity he would otherwise buy, which is where the value lies. The numbers in this example are illustrative only.
Practical steps before you sign
Check the roof and the building
Ask a roofer or installer to check the roof's condition, orientation, shading and load capacity. If the roof will need repairs in the next few years, consider doing them first, because removing and refitting panels later adds cost.
Clarify tax and registration
Solar systems come with registration steps and tax questions, so ask your installer which registrations they handle and which are your job. Rules on how solar income and self-consumed power are treated for tax can be complex for businesses, so ask your Steuerberater before you finalize the size and setup.
Talk to your grid operator
Your installer will usually register the system with the grid operator, but ask about connection timelines, metering and whether a smart meter makes sense for you, given the 60% rule.
Get comparable quotes
Ask at least three installers for quotes with the same assumptions: system size, battery or no battery, expected self-consumption, metering, warranty terms and maintenance. Ask how they estimated your self-consumption and what data they used.
Your rooftop solar checklist
- Collect a year of electricity bills and your daily usage pattern
- Check roof condition, shading and orientation with a professional
- Decide which loads you can shift into sunny hours
- Ask for quotes with and without a battery, using the same assumptions
- Ask how the 60% feed-in limit and smart meter options affect your setup
- Check the current feed-in rates on the Bundesnetzagentur site
- Talk to your Steuerberater about tax treatment and registration
- Fill in the planning template and compare rough payback times
- Get a commissioning date in writing before you sign
Frequently asked questions
Is the feed-in tariff still worth it in Germany?
As a bonus, yes, but rarely as the main reason to install. For new systems up to 10 kWp commissioned from 1 August 2026 to 31 January 2027, the rate is about 7.7 cents per kWh for partial feed-in. Using your own solar power usually saves more per kWh than selling it.
What happens to my surplus when wholesale prices are negative?
Under the Solarspitzengesetz, new systems get no feed-in payment during those periods. The payment period is extended accordingly, so the hours are added at the end. Using or storing surplus power on site helps you avoid losing value on those days.
Do I need a smart meter?
Systems from 2 to 100 kWp without a smart meter may feed in only up to 60% of their capacity. Whether a smart meter is worth it depends on your system size and usage, so ask your installer and grid operator.
Related reading
The bottom line
Rooftop solar can still be a smart investment for a German small business, but the math has shifted. The feed-in tariff is modest, it falls every six months, and newer rules limit payments on the sunniest days. The value now lies in self-consumption: matching the system to your daytime usage and using a battery, a heat pump or EV charging where they make sense.
Start with your electricity bills, not the size of your roof. Map when you use power, get comparable quotes and check the official rates on the Bundesnetzagentur site, and you will end up with a system that works for your business rather than one built around a tariff.
