Balcony power plant subsidies: Guidelines and opportunities

The energy transition is in full swing! The best part: you can participate and benefit. Secure a subsidy for your balcony power plant to cover part of your own energy consumption. Furthermore, you'll reduce your carbon footprint and actively save CO₂ when you switch to solar energy. And if you then use solar power from your balcony... own balcony power plant By winning a grant, you'll also save money. This article presents the different types of balcony power plant subsidies available. Based on this information, you can choose the measures that best suit your situation. Thanks to these subsidies, you can soon own a balcony power plant and actively contribute to climate change.

What subsidies are available for balcony power plants?

Since the transition to climate-friendly energy is a universal concern, it is promoted and supported by the government. New incentives and opportunities to obtain subsidies for balcony power plants are constantly being introduced. Therefore, there has never been a better time to get started than now. However, the subsidy opportunities for balcony power plants as mini-PV systems are not as generous as for larger solar installations. 

Feed-in tariffs for balcony power plants are not available under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). This is because the vast majority of models do not meet the necessary criteria. They do not generate enough electricity and are therefore classified as "not significant" for the public grid. However, this isn't necessarily a problem, as balcony power plants are generally less expensive to purchase, and even small subsidies can make a big difference. Below, we present various funding options that you can access for your balcony power plant.

Relaxed legal regulations

The federal government focuses its direct financial support on large-scale solar installations on roofs and ground-level systems. However, you can still benefit from passive support when purchasing a balcony-mounted solar power plant. The government has significantly relaxed the legal regulations for balcony-mounted systems, making their purchase and installation even simpler.

• Increased maximum power: Since May 2024, the power limit for balcony power plants has been increased. Previously, it was 600 W. Now you can install a balcony power plant with a power output of 800 W yourself without a permit.
• Simplified registration: The entire registration process has been streamlined. A balcony power plant now only needs to be registered in the Market Master Data Register (MaStR). This can be done easily online. A separate notification to the grid operator is no longer necessary.
• No landlord's approval required: If you live in rented accommodation, you can breathe a sigh of relief. You don't need your landlord's permission to install a balcony power plant on your rented apartment's balcony. Furthermore, your landlord can no longer prevent the installation of a balcony power plant without a valid reason.

Balcony power plant subsidies from federal states

Most of the specific financial subsidies for balcony power plants are administered by the individual federal states. Federal government programs tend to focus on subsidies for larger installations. Therefore, the first step in obtaining a balcony power plant subsidy is to check which programs are offered by the relevant federal state.

• Berlin offers a worthwhile one-off grant of 500 EUR: The German state of Berlin offers a subsidy of €500 for balcony power plants. It's worthwhile investing in a high-performance balcony power plant like ours. 890W Bifacial Balcony Power Plant with Storage to invest. If the model you choose costs less than €500, you will only receive funding equal to the purchase price. This subsidy is valid until December 31, 2024.
• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offers €500 for tenants: In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, you can also receive a subsidy of €500 for balcony power plants. This amount is paid once per plug-and-play system, but only after the purchase and installation are complete. It's also important to note that this subsidy is only available to tenants, as the funding programs for landlords have already been exhausted. One condition for this balcony power plant subsidy is that the system has a maximum output of 800 watts (based on the inverter's output). Since most balcony power plants are now more powerful, this also applies if the output is limited to 800 watts by an inverter. If this subsidy is right for you, our 1700W balcony power plant, can be throttled down to 800W as if it were made for it.
• Balcony power plant subsidy of 300 EUR in Saxony: Since May 16, 2024, Saxony has been subsidizing balcony power plants with a flat-rate payment of €300. This offer is only available to tenants and can only be claimed after the balcony power plant has been installed. Applications for the balcony power plant subsidy in Saxony must be submitted to the Saxon Development Bank (Sächsische Aufbaubank). Another requirement is that the individual solar modules must have a minimum output of 300 kWp. At the same time, the entire balcony power plant, including the inverter, must not exceed a total output of 800 W. 850W balcony power station It is perfectly suited for funding, as it consists of two modules with 425 W of power each.

Currently, there are only three state-level funding options available for balcony power plants. Previously, many states launched programs that, due to their popularity, have already been fully utilized. However, in the interest of the energy transition, it is likely that states will soon open new funding programs.

Balcony power plants: subsidies from cities and counties

If you don't live in one of the three federal states mentioned above, don't despair. Numerous funding opportunities exist at the municipal level in the other federal states. We're moving from the general to the specific, but this doesn't say anything about the amount of funding available for individual programs. Cities and counties can also offer you attractive subsidies for your balcony power plant. Here, we present a selection, focusing on cities and counties located in other federal states:

• Balcony power plant subsidies in Lower Saxony: In Lower Saxony, a new subsidy has been available in the city of Braunschweig since February 2024. This subsidy amounts to €200 for balcony power plants with a capacity between 350 and 800 W. If you receive BAföG (German Federal Training Assistance Act) or Bürgergeld (German Citizen's Allowance), you will receive an additional €150. Further funding for your balcony power plant in Lower Saxony is available in the city of Göttingen. Here, you can receive €180 for the purchase of a balcony power plant. Benefit recipients can also benefit from an additional €200 with this subsidy. However, please note: The subsidy must be applied for before the purchase.
• Balcony power plant subsidies in North Rhine-Westphalia: As part of the "Climate-Friendly Living and Working in Düsseldorf" program, the city is subsidizing the purchase of balcony power plants with a maximum output of 800 W. This can be extremely lucrative for you, as the city covers 50% of the purchase price. However, the total subsidy is capped at €600. Therefore, the higher your purchase price, the more worthwhile the subsidy becomes. This is a real opportunity to acquire a balcony power plant with additional storage, such as ours. 1700W balcony power plant with storage.
• Baden-Württemberg subsidies for balcony power plants: The city of Heidelberg offers a similar subsidy program. Here, too, the city covers 50% of your purchase price. However, the maximum payout is €200. If you have a Heidelberg Pass, the limit increases to €400. Without the pass, you will only receive substantial funding for smaller balcony power plants. Another subsidy program for balcony power plants in Baden-Württemberg is available in Ludwigsburg. Under the "KlimaBonus Ludwigsburg" program, you receive a flat rate of €300 for the purchase of a balcony power plant. If you happen to have a Ludwigsburg Card, however, you can receive an impressive maximum subsidy of €1.450.

The alternative: KfW funding for your balcony power plant

If you're looking into subsidies for balcony power plants or solar systems in general, you've probably heard of the KfW loan program for renewable energy. However, this loan is primarily designed for larger PV systems. In theory, it would still be possible to apply for a KfW loan for your balcony power plant. However, we recommend that you focus on regional subsidies instead. There are several reasons why KfW funding for your balcony power plant might not be worthwhile and could be difficult to obtain.

• Feed-in to the public grid is necessary: To receive KfW funding for your balcony power plant, you must feed at least some of the generated electricity into the public grid. But this creates a catch-22. As you read above, most balcony power plants don't produce enough electricity to qualify for a feed-in tariff. Combined with loan interest, this would likely end up costing you more.
• Significant bureaucratic effort: To obtain a loan from KfW, numerous forms must be submitted, which can be time-consuming. These include, for example, proof of residence, an excerpt from the land register, and income tax assessments. As you can see, this would negate a major advantage of the balcony power plant: the quick and unbureaucratic registration, which can be done online via MaStR.
• Interest rates increase the absolute price: Even though the KfW promotional loan for renewable energies is supposed to offer favorable terms, interest still accrues. Since balcony power plants are inexpensive compared to large PV systems, the loan interest would only unnecessarily increase the overall costs. And this is especially true when considering regional alternatives that cover half the costs or where you can get inexpensive models almost for free. As you can see, regional subsidies clearly outperform loans when it comes to financing balcony power plants.

Take advantage of current funding for your balcony power plant

As you can see, there are numerous German states, cities, and counties where attractive subsidies for balcony power plants are available. It's also important that new programs are constantly being established, as the energy transition will shape the coming years and decades. The time to contribute has never been better than now. However, to be eligible for a subsidy, it's essential that the balcony power plant meets the specific requirements. You'll find a wide variety of options in our online shop. balcony power plants, so that you can specifically find a model that meets the respective regional funding requirements.