Germany is to extend a subsidy scheme for energy storage systems available to owners of small-scale solar PV arrays after the programme expires at the end of the year.
German Economy and Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the federal government is working on proposals to continue the incentives for around three years from 2016 following a cross-party Bundestag initiative.
Some 14,000 domestic energy storage systems have been installed in Germany in part due to a seven-fold increase in storage battery system sales spurred by the subsidy scheme, according to German solar trade body BSW.
Earlier this month, Gabriel said development bank KfW’s loans and subsidies for solar PV would expire. BSW chief executive Carsten Kornig said the policy U-turn meant “reason had prevailed”.
“We are relieved because the further success of the Energiewende is dependent on the expansion of storage,” he said. “Phasing out (the subsidies) after only two and a half years would be too early.”
Image: Domestic solar PV (US Department of Energy)
