The number of solar heating systems in Germany grew by around 71,000 last year. In 2017, 78,000 new solar thermal systems were installed. Measured in terms of the collector area, the market decline is around 8 percent. In total, around 2.4 million solar thermal systems currently generate solar heat in this country (as of the end of 2018). The Federal Association of the German Heating Industry (BDH) and the Federal Association of the Solar Industry (BSW-Solar) announced.
“Solar heating systems are popular because they can be combined with almost all other heating systems and easily retrofitted. Nevertheless, the number of solar heating systems is not growing to the desired extent,” states BSW Managing Director Carsten Körnig. “If there are too many new buildings and heating renovations, the power of the sun remains unused. State funding programs are often unknown and have gaps.”
solar thermal energy
BSW and BDH unanimously call for an improvement in the incentives. Renewable energies and energy efficiency should not be played off against each other by politicians, so the unanimous demand of both federal associations.
“The combination of efficient heating technology and solar thermal energy is a worthwhile investment. Compared to an old system, energy savings of up to 40 percent can be achieved. This is not only noticeable financially, but is also an important contribution to climate protection,” says Andreas Lücke, General Manager of the BDH.
energetically optimized building
The expansion of an existing “solar heating” is also funded with up to 2,000 euros
The state subsidy for the modernization of solar heating in a home is usually 3,600 euros, but at least 2,000 euros. Refurbishers who opt for a solar system solely for the provision of hot water will now receive a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 2,000 euros. The expansion of an existing “solar heating” is also funded with up to 2,000 euros. For this, the previous heating system must have a collector area of four to a maximum of 40 square meters and have already been in use for two years.
If a house is retrofitted that accommodates more than three residential units, up to 100 square meters of collector surface are subsidized at 200 euros per square meter through what is known as innovation funding. In new buildings, solar heating systems are currently not subsidized by the state. Solar heating systems use solar energy to generate hot water and space heating. In the energetically optimized new building, solar thermal systems can supply over 50 percent of the heat requirement.
gas condensing boiler
They can be combined with almost any imaginable heat generator, such as a wood boiler, a heat pump, or a gas condensing boiler. The new short film "Heating with Sun and Natural Gas", which was published on the BSW YouTube channel, shows how the switch to solar heat can also be achieved during the heating season. Important: Funding from the market incentive program must always be applied for before the renovation work begins; the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) is responsible.