German government delays EEG reform, risking loss of feed‑in tariffs for solar owners

Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) has proposed a revision of Germany’s Renewable Energy Act (EEG) that would eliminate the feed‑in tariff for new photovoltaic systems once the current law expires at the end of 2026. The draft links the EEG reform to a broader “net package” that would impose a Redispatch‑reserve, limiting where new solar and wind farms can be built unless network operators are compensated.

The proposal has sparked sharp opposition from the SPD and the renewable‑energy sector, which warn that delaying or rejecting the reform could create a “solar‑chaos” for owners after 2027. A parliamentary vote before the summer recess is sought, but the measure still requires approval from the European Union and must pass both Bundestag and Bundesrat.

If the EEG is not renewed in time, new PV installations could still be connected to the grid, but they would no longer receive a guaranteed feed‑in remuneration, threatening the financial viability of upcoming solar projects.