German state grants EUR 60m for solar in Rhenish mining region

The German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia will allocate up to EUR 60 million (USD 65.3m) over the next four years to promote the installation of solar power systems in the Rhenish mining region, the state’s energy minister Mona Neubaur said last week.

The funding will be granted to support the Gigawatt Pact alliance which was launched in March 2022 by around 50 districts, municipalities, energy companies, project sponsors and the state’s energy ministry.

To promote the adoption of solar energy, dedicated funding programmes for municipal buildings are slated to launch in February. Eligible projects include solar roof systems on municipal buildings with or without battery storage, specifically designed for self-consumption of generated electricity. To qualify, a minimum forecasted self-consumption rate of 80% is required. The funding usually covers up to 95% of eligible expenses, with a maximum funding limit set at EUR 350,000 per system or building.

Support will be extended to planning projects aimed at preparing investment measures for constructing or expanding solar systems. Eligible applicants include cities, municipalities, districts, as well as their associations and special-purpose associations within the Rhenish region. The funding rate typically covers up to 95% of eligible expenses, with a maximum funding limit set at EUR 35,000.

The Gigawatt Pact aims to increase renewable energy capacity in the Rhenish region to 5 GW by 2028 from 2.3 GW in 2020 with a strong emphasis on expanding renewable energy for heat generation.

In 2023, North Rhine-Westphalia saw the installation of 2.13 GW of solar capacity. At the end of last year, the state had 653,335 solar plants in operation, boasting a collective capacity of 9.74 GW.