Germany installed 3.4 GW of solar power capacity in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, a 17% year-over-year (YoY) decrease from 4.1 GW, according to data published by the German Federal Network Agency Bundesnetzagentur.

The installations for July were 1,519 MW, August (906 MW), and September (960 MW).

Mercom reported that Germany installed 3.4  GW of solar power in Q2 2024, which was later revised to 3.8 GW.

At the end of September 2024, the country’s cumulative solar capacity stood at 94.3 GW.

According to Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act program, the cumulative solar installation target by the end of 2024 is 88 GW, 128 GW by 2026, 172 GW by 2028, and 215 GW by 2030.

The states of Bayern, Sachsen, Baden-Württemberg, and Nordrhein-Westfalen led the solar installations during the quarter.

Germany’s latest innovation tender for 583 MW of renewable energy projects was oversubscribed by 218%, with bids totaling 1,856 MW. Of the 154 bids submitted, 50 were awarded contracts for a combined 587 MW of solar plus storage projects. The bids quoted in the auction ranged from €0.0674 (~$0.072)/kWh to €0.0745 (~$0.080)/kWh, which were below the ceiling tariff of €0.0918 (~$0.098)/kWh.

Germany’s total installed solar capacity soared to a record 14.2 GW in 2023, rising 91% from the previous year.

Meanwhile, electricity generated from renewables covered a majority of electricity consumption in Germany for the first time, accounting for nearly 59.7% of the net public electricity generation in 2023.

In August, the German government approved a $63.3 billion green investment plan to aid renewable energy expansion and reduce carbon emissions.

Last year, the agency reduced the price ceiling for rooftop solar auctions in 2024 to €0.105 (~$0.12)/kWh from €0.1125 (~$0.12)/kWh in 2023. The price cap (€0.735 (~$0.80)/kWh) for onshore wind and ground-mounted solar (€0.737 (~$0.80)/kWh) will remain the same as in 2023.

The ceiling prices for rooftop solar were reduced based on the decline in project costs. In the last round of auctions in 2023, there were not many bids above €0.105 (~$0.12)/kWh.