Germany's photovoltaic sector confronts legal rulings and redispatch curtailments

A recent decision by the Oberlandesgericht Koblenz clarified that, besides roofers and electricians, the SHK (sanitary, heating and climate) trade may also plan, install and maintain photovoltaic systems when qualified. The ZVSHK stressed that the ruling applied only to the specific case and warned against interpreting it as limiting PV work to two trades. Michael Kober of the ZVSHK emphasized that installers such as Anlagenmechaniker für Sanitär‑Heizung‑Klimatechnik are equally entitled to perform the work.

In parallel, Bavarian farmers are increasingly affected by grid‑curtailment measures known as redispatch, which reduced output from private PV plants. Simon Donhauser reported frequent loss of self‑generated electricity. Technical solutions, including advanced control systems from Cube Concepts, now enable owners to use their own solar power despite curtailments.