Berlin’s Senate approved its annual report on the city’s solar law on 27 October 2026. The report, addressed to the main committee of the Abgeordnetenhaus, counts about 69,000 photovoltaic systems with roughly 583 megawatts peak as of 6 October 2026. It comes as the law is being evaluated three years after it took effect, which matters for the city’s 2035 solar target.

What the law requires

Since 1 January 2023, owners must install and operate a photovoltaic system when they construct new buildings or carry out major roof works. For public buildings of the State of Berlin, the obligation follows the Berlin Climate Protection and Energy Transition Act. Under it, usable roof areas of all public buildings must be fitted with a solar system. The report was presented by Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises.

The numbers

  • Photovoltaic systems (6 October 2026): about 69,000
  • Combined capacity: about 583 MWp
  • Households supplied for a year (city estimate): about 210,000
  • Exemption requests in 2025: 137
  • Exemption requests in 2026, up to 24 August: 91

The household estimate assumes 900 full-load hours and average consumption of about 2,500 kWh per year. Some of the exemption requests concerned cases outside the scope of the solar law. The Senate administration supports implementation with a practice guide, an explanatory video and all relevant forms.

Evaluation and subsidies

The evaluation looks in particular at how the Berlin solar law fits into the interplay of state and federal law and where adjustments are needed. Experiences and approaches from elsewhere may also feed into its further development.

The obligation is one of several measures under the Masterplan Solarcity. The SolarPLUS subsidy programme has improved the economics of solar projects since 2022. In early 2026 it was restructured: SolarPLUS S supports smaller projects on single-family, two-family and terraced houses, while SolarPLUS L supports larger projects. Flat-rate support has made applications and processing for small projects simpler and faster.

The 2035 goal

The city aims to generate about 25 per cent of its electricity from solar energy by 2035. Giffey said this requires continuous expansion in the coming years as well.