Solar tariffs and regulations in Germany
Germany has no net metering. Every exported kWh earns the EEG feed-in tariff, while a self-consumed kWh saves the full retail price, and that gap is what decides how a German system should be sized.
Every market, every tariff, built in
Net metering, net billing, credit carry-over, feed-in tariffs and hourly or monthly netting all live in the tariff configurator, alongside time-of-use, tiered and demand charge structures. Tune currency, seasons, export rates and VAT, or build a brand-new tariff structure when a market changes the rules. Pre-built for the US, UK, Germany, Türkiye, South Africa, Italy, Spain, France, Poland and the Netherlands.
- Net metering, net billing, and credit carryover
- Time-of-use, tiered, and demand charge structures
- Per-country currency, seasons, and export terms
EEG feed-in tariff (Einspeisevergütung)
A fixed payment for every exported kWh, set at commissioning and guaranteed for 20 years. The rate falls by capacity band and is applied pro rata, so a 30 kW system earns the band rate on the first 10 kW and a lower rate on the rest. The Bundesnetzagentur reduces rates roughly every six months.
Self-consumption is worth several times more than export
A retail purchase price near 0.39 euro per kWh against a feed-in rate around 7.7 cents means a self-consumed kWh is worth about five times an exported one. System size, load profile and storage follow from that ratio rather than from available roof area.
Solarspitzengesetz
In force since 25 February 2025. No feed-in payment is made during hours with negative exchange prices, and new systems carry smart meter and control box obligations. Midday output has to be shifted or stored rather than simply exported.
EEG 2027 is drafted
The cabinet decision of 29 July 2026 would end fixed feed-in tariffs for new systems in favour of staged mandatory direct marketing, with a transitional payment for up to 36 months and a proposed 50 percent feed-in cap on small and medium rooftops. 2026 is likely the last year to lock in a 20-year fixed tariff.
01Does Germany have net metering?+
No. Imports are billed at the full retail price and exports earn the EEG feed-in tariff separately, with no offsetting between the two. Any model that nets them against each other will overstate the return on a German rooftop.
02How is VAT handled for residential solar?+
Since January 2023 a zero percent VAT rate applies to the purchase and installation of residential systems up to 30 kWp. Larger systems and commercial projects follow the standard 19 percent rate, and solarVis selects the rate from facility type and system size.
03Are the feed-in rates in solarVis current?+
Rates are maintained centrally and applied by capacity band, but the Bundesnetzagentur publishes a new degression step roughly every six months. Check the rate against the current publication for the commissioning date you are quoting and adjust it in the project if it has moved.
04Can I compare surplus feed-in against the market premium?+
Yes. Both the surplus feed-in (Teileinspeisung) and the market premium (Marktprämie) variants are preloaded, including the capacity bands above 100 kW, and the two can be compared side by side on return, payback and 20-year savings.
