Solar in Germany: the EEG, Eigenverbrauch and the 2026 numbers

The feed-in tariff no longer carries the business case – self-consumption does. Here is how the 2026 EEG rates, the 0% VAT rule and the new negative-price regime actually fit together, with the formulas shown.

Germany remains one of the easiest places in the world to put solar on a roof: registration is streamlined, VAT on residential systems is zero, and the EEG (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz) still guarantees a fixed payment for every kilowatt-hour you export for two decades. But the economics have quietly flipped. The feed-in tariff that once carried the whole business case is now a modest bonus, and the real money is in Eigenverbrauch – using your own solar power instead of buying grid electricity at 30–40 ct/kWh. This guide walks through the 2026 rules, the numbers behind them, and a worked example you can check against our Germany solar calculator.

How the EEG feed-in tariff works

When your PV system is commissioned and connected, the feed-in rate valid on that date is locked in for the year of commissioning plus 20 full calendar years. Later cuts never touch existing systems – only new connections. Since February 2024 the rates have fallen by roughly 1% every six months (on 1 February and 1 August), a schedule written into the EEG 2023.

There are two payment modes. With Teileinspeisung (surplus feed-in) you use what you can and export the rest; with Volleinspeisung (full feed-in) you export everything at a higher rate. The rates below apply to systems commissioned between 1 February and 31 July 2026; from 1 August 2026 they are expected to drop by about 1% again (to roughly 7.71 and 12.23 ct/kWh for small systems – confirm the exact figures with the Bundesnetzagentur before you sign, as they are set shortly before each step).

Volleinspeisung only makes sense in rare cases – typically a large roof on a building that uses almost no electricity. For an occupied home, surplus feed-in plus maximum self-consumption wins comfortably, as the next section shows.

Why Eigenverbrauch dominates the economics

German household electricity costs roughly 30–40 ct/kWh in 2026 depending on tariff and region. Every solar kilowatt-hour you consume yourself replaces a kilowatt-hour you would otherwise buy, so it is worth your full grid price. An exported kilowatt-hour earns only the feed-in rate.

That 4–5× gap is the single most important number in German residential solar. It means the return on your system is driven less by how much it produces and more by how much of that production you can actually use. A typical household with no battery self-consumes 25–35% of its solar yield; a well-sized battery pushes that to 55–75%. We compare the two strategies in detail in our guide on self-consumption vs export.

The classic sizing logic: fill the roof, then add storage

Ten years ago installers sized systems to match consumption. Today panels are so cheap – turnkey residential systems commonly land around €1,200–1,500 per kWp including installation, and 0% VAT – that the standard advice is simply to fill the usable roof. The marginal cost of extra panels is low, the feed-in tariff still covers something for the surplus, and a larger system future-proofs you for a heat pump or an EV.

The battery decision is separate. Storage does not increase production; it shifts solar power from midday into the evening, converting 7.78-ct export kWh into 30–40-ct avoided-purchase kWh. Whether that conversion pays for the battery depends on battery price, cycle life and your evening consumption – run your own numbers in the battery payback calculator rather than trusting a sales brochure.

Rules and paperwork in 2026

The administrative side is lighter than its reputation suggests:

• 0% VAT (Nullsteuersatz): since 2023, residential PV systems and storage up to 30 kWp are invoiced at 0% VAT – the quoted price is the final price, and the old Kleinunternehmer tax gymnastics are gone.
• Marktstammdatenregister: every system, down to the smallest balcony module, must be registered in the Bundesnetzagentur online register, normally within one month of commissioning. It takes minutes; skipping it can cost you the feed-in payment.
• Balcony solar (Steckersolar): plug-in systems with up to 800 W inverter output (and around 2 kWp of modules) enjoy simplified registration, no installer requirement, and a legal right for tenants and flat owners to install them. They feed appliances directly and rarely export much, so no feed-in contract is usually worth the effort.
• §14a EnWG: new controllable consumers such as wallboxes and heat pumps must be dimmable by the grid operator in exchange for reduced grid fees. It concerns big loads, not your PV system directly, but it shapes how home energy management systems are being designed.

What changed in 2025/26: the Solarspitzengesetz

In early 2025 the so-called Solarspitzengesetz took effect. For systems commissioned after it came into force, no feed-in tariff is paid during hours when the exchange electricity price is negative; the affected hours are credited back by extending the 20-year payment period at the end. New systems without a smart meter are also temporarily capped at feeding in 60% of their rated power, until certified metering and control hardware is installed – another push behind the ongoing smart-meter rollout. The practical effect for a small rooftop system is modest (negative prices cluster around sunny midday hours when your battery should be charging anyway), but it strengthens the case for self-consumption and storage even further. Details are still being refined in ordinances, so treat specifics as subject to change and check current guidance before commissioning.

Worked example: 8 kWp in Munich

Take an 8 kWp system in Munich yielding about 8,000 kWh per year (roughly 1,000 kWh/kWp is a fair southern-Germany assumption). The household self-consumes 35% and pays 35 ct/kWh for grid power; the rest is exported at 7.78 ct/kWh.

At a turnkey price of about €10,800 (8 kWp × €1,350), that is a simple payback of roughly 7.8 years – before any electricity price inflation, and before a battery lifts the self-use share. Note how the 35% self-used slice earns more than twice as much as the 65% exported slice: that is the Eigenverbrauch effect in one line. Model your own tariff, degradation and price scenarios in the solar savings calculator.

Common mistakes

• Waiting for a better feed-in tariff. The degression only goes one way; every six months of waiting locks in a lower rate for 20 years while grid prices keep rising.
• Choosing Volleinspeisung for an occupied home. 12.34 ct for everything is worse than 30–40 ct on the third you use yourself plus 7.78 ct on the rest.
• Sizing the battery to the brochure, not your evening load. An oversized battery cycles too little to ever pay back.
• Forgetting Marktstammdatenregister registration – the grid operator can withhold feed-in payments until you register.
• Comparing quotes with and without VAT confusion. Residential quotes must already be at 0% VAT; a quote showing 19% VAT on a home system is a red flag.
• Assuming 2024 blog figures still apply. Rates step down every February and August – always check the rate valid on your expected connection date.

The German system rewards people who run the numbers honestly: modest guaranteed export income, large avoided-cost savings, and rules that mostly get out of your way. Start with the Germany calculator, then stress-test the battery question separately.

Frequently asked questions

What is the EEG feed-in tariff for a new home solar system in 2026?

Systems up to 10 kWp commissioned between 1 February and 31 July 2026 receive 7.78 ct/kWh for surplus feed-in (Teileinspeisung) or 12.34 ct/kWh for full feed-in (Volleinspeisung). From 1 August 2026 rates are expected to fall about 1%, to roughly 7.71 and 12.23 ct/kWh. Your rate is locked at connection for 20 full calendar years plus the commissioning year.

Is self-consumption really worth more than exporting?

Yes, by a factor of roughly 4-5. A self-used kWh replaces grid power at about 30-40 ct, while an exported kWh earns only 7.78 ct. That is why batteries and load shifting matter more than squeezing out extra yield.

Do I pay VAT on a home solar system in Germany?

No. Since 2023 the Nullsteuersatz applies: residential PV systems and storage up to 30 kWp are invoiced at 0% VAT, so the quoted price is the final price.

What does the Solarspitzengesetz change for new systems?

For systems commissioned after early 2025, no feed-in tariff is paid during hours with negative exchange prices; those hours are credited back at the end of the 20-year period. New systems without smart meters are also temporarily limited to exporting 60% of rated power. Details are still evolving, so check current Bundesnetzagentur guidance.