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New city law requires new buildings to install rooftop solar PV systems by 2023.
- Systems must cover at least 30% of the roof area.
- Violators could pay fines of up to €50,000.
The Berlin House of Representatives has passed the Berlin Solar Act that requires installing solar PV systems on all new buildings in the German capital from 2023. The new provision applies to all new buildings and major renovations of roofs in existing buildings with usable areas of greater than 50 square meters.
According to the stipulation, the PV system must cover no less than 30 per cent of the roof area. The law also defines various minimum requirements for different residential buildings: 2 kW systems are to be installed for a maximum of two apartments, 3 kW systems for residential buildings with three to five apartments, and 6 kW systems for six to 10 apartments.
A funding programme for PV deployment will support the implementation of the new law. Investitionsbank Berlin will facilitate the programme in the form of investment grants and loans.
Citizens who violate the PV requirements will have to pay a fine of up to €5,000 for a one/two-family house. For multi-family homes, owners could pay as much as €25,000, while non-residential buildings could pay up to €50,000.