Germany installed 4.8 GW of solar capacity in 2020, a 21% year-over-year increase compared to 4.03 GW in 2019, according to the latest number announced by the federal network agency Bundesnetzagentur.

In December 2020, a total of 525 MW solar capacity was added, a 31.57% increase compared to 399 MW during the same period last year. The country installed 480.84 MW of capacity in November 2020.

As per the federal agency’s data, the cumulative solar power capacity at the end of 2020 reached 54.18 GW.

The country added 2.4 GW of solar installations in the first half (1H) of 2020, compared to 2.1 GW in 1H 2019, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Total solar installations in the third quarter (Q3) of 2020 stood at 1.2 GW, a 34% increase from Q3 2019.

Germany installed a total capacity of 3.3 GW in 2013, 1.9 GW in 2014, 1.5 GW in 2015, 1.52 GW in 2016, and 1.75 GW in 2017. Total solar installations in 2018 reached 3 GW.

In December 2020, the federal network agency had announced the auction results for solar and onshore wind projects. The agency received a total of 45 bids aggregating 264.15 MW of solar projects for its 256.9 MW solar tender. The lowest bid quoted for the solar tender was €0.048 (~$0.059)/kWh, and the highest was €0.052 (~$0.064)/kWh. The average quoted price for the tender was €0.051 (~$0.062)/kWh.

In the 202 MW wind and solar auction concluded in November 2020, solar bids won the full capacity, as revealed by Bundesnetzagentur. The tender was oversubscribed by 518 MW, and there was not a single bid for wind projects. The federal network agency awarded 43 bids with a total capacity of 202 MW. The lowest bid for the tender was €0.052 (~$0.06)/kWh, and the highest bid was recorded to be €0.054 (~$0.065)/kWh. The average bid was €0.053 (~$0.062)/kWh for the tender.

In September 2020, the German government announced plans to enhance its cumulative solar capacity from the current 52 GW to 83 GW in 2026, and 100 GW in 2030. The country also intends to expand the cumulative capacity for onshore wind project from the current 54 GW to 65 GW in 2026, and 71 GW in 2030.