Germany has awarded 315 MW of capacity in its latest rooftop solar tender. The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) allocated the capacity across 302 projects, with bids ranging from €0.0655 to €0.0781 per kWh. This tender, which attracted 325 bids totaling 352 MW, was oversubscribed, marking a positive shift from previous rounds.
Oversubscription Signals Growth in Germany Rooftop Solar Tender
Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has awarded 315 MW of capacity in its latest rooftop solar tender. This marks a significant achievement, as the tender was oversubscribed — a stark contrast to previous rounds. The agency received 325 bids, amounting to 352 MW of capacity, with 302 projects ultimately being awarded.
The tender saw bid values ranging from €0.0655 ($0.070) to €0.0781 per kWh, with an average award price of €0.0733 per kWh. This is a slight increase from the previous round, which had an average award price of €0.0703 per kWh.
The Bundesnetzagentur noted that the oversubscription is a positive development, especially considering the challenges faced in earlier rounds. In the last tender, only 272 MW of capacity was awarded from 336 bids, amounting to 367 MW. In the June tender, only 186 MW was awarded, showing a trend of under-subscription that has now been reversed.
Higher Award Prices Reflect Demand in Germany Rooftop Solar Tender
The tender was conducted under a special regulation that increased the total tender volume for ground-mounted solar plants and buildings to 3.6 GW. The Bundesnetzagentur had previously set the tender volume at 300 MW, which was slightly exceeded in this round.
This round’s average award price of €0.0733 per kWh is higher than the average awarded price in the ground-mounted tender, which was €0.0703 per kWh. This indicates a competitive bidding environment, with developers willing to accept slightly higher prices for rooftop solar projects.
The Bundesnetzagentur has announced that the next tender for rooftop solar installations will be held on December 1. This follows a series of tenders throughout the year, with the most recent one in September awarding 1.1 GW of capacity for ground-mounted solar installations.
Ground-Mounted Projects Lag Behind Germany Rooftop Solar Tender Success
While the rooftop solar tender was oversubscribed, the ground-mounted solar tenders have faced challenges. The September tender saw 1.1 GW of capacity awarded, but the Bundesnetzagentur received only 1.5 GW of bids from 120 projects. The tender volume was set at 1.6 GW, indicating that the tender was undersubscribed.
The bid prices for the September tender ranged from €0.0648 to €0.0733 per kWh, with an average award price of €0.0703 per kWh. This was higher than the average price in the previous tender, which was €0.0678 per kWh.
The Bundesnetzagentur attributed the lower participation in the ground-mounted tenders to several factors, including increased tender volumes set by the government and ongoing issues with licensing and land availability. These challenges have made it difficult for developers to bring projects to the tender stage, resulting in undersubscription.
Positive Outlook for Future Germany Rooftop Solar Tender Rounds
The next tender for ground-mounted solar projects is scheduled for November 1, with a tender volume of 1.4 GW. The Bundesnetzagentur is optimistic about future rounds, despite the challenges faced in the ground-mounted solar segment.
The success of the rooftop solar tender is a positive sign for Germany’s solar market. It demonstrates that there is strong interest in rooftop projects, which are typically smaller and face fewer land use challenges than ground-mounted installations.
Germany’s commitment to expanding its solar capacity is evident in the increased tender volumes and the special regulation for rooftop and ground-mounted solar. However, the challenges faced in the ground-mounted segment highlight the need for continued efforts to streamline licensing processes and improve land availability.
For more insights into Germany’s solar energy developments, visit PVknowhow.com.