In Germany, there is as yet no law that prescribes a nationwide solar obligation. A corresponding draft law on the expansion of solar installations on buildings was presented by the Greens in the Bundestag last year. However, individual federal states such as Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia have already gone ahead in 2022 and introduced mandatory installation for roof surfaces and parking spaces. Other federal states are preparing similar regulations.
However, the regulations still vary greatly depending on the federal state, says Harald Baumeister, co-founder and Managing Director of Sopago: "In Baden-Württemberg, for example, photovoltaic roofing is mandatory for parking areas with 35 parking spaces or more, while in Rhineland-Palatinate it will only be mandatory for more than 50 parking spaces from the start of 2023."
Whether and when a comprehensive solar obligation will be introduced at federal level is not yet foreseeable. Baumeister believes that a federal regulation would have the advantage of standardizing the patchwork of state-specific regulations and accelerating the nationwide expansion of solar energy. He sees France's initiative as an opportunity to use solar carports more frequently as electricity generators in Germany too: "I am delighted that solar carports are being recognized as a building block for generating environmentally friendly electricity, precisely because they make double use of already sealed surfaces. As a result, solar carports may now also become more of a focus for companies and municipalities."
Carports offer great area potential for the expansion of photovoltaics
Baumeister is nevertheless critical of a nationwide solar obligation. He would much rather see standardized funding for solar systems in order to create more incentives for companies: "An obligation is initially perceived as negative and has many exceptions. Subsidies could be used to motivate companies to introduce solar carports." Baumeister also advocates the abolition of bureaucratic hurdles. This is because complex building applications and long waiting times still deter many companies from investing in solar carports.
Sopago GmbH offers complete solutions for PV expansion on sealed surfaces. The young southern German company develops robust, flexible and inexpensive wood and steel constructions that span even large parking areas with different drive-through heights like a carport to accommodate a powerful PV system. The photovoltaic solution is aimed at industry, retail, cities and local authorities with parking areas with more than 35 parking spaces. With the solar carports, Sopago also meets the legal requirements for renewable energy in parking lots.
