Solar initiatives in Verden, Germany and Schaffhausen, Switzerland aim to expand rooftop PV

In the German district of Verden, the citizen-led "VerSonnen" project, founded by physicist Jochen Möller, is encouraging owners of multi‑family buildings to install photovoltaic systems. The initiative offers support on planning, financing, construction, management and tenant billing, and works with the local energy cooperative Realweg eG. Möller reports that his own rooftop array generates about 11,000 kWh annually, of which roughly 7,000 kWh are fed into the grid, earning him €700‑€900 in feed‑in remuneration.

Meanwhile, the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen has introduced a new solar directive that provides homeowners with planning tools and guidance to facilitate the adoption of rooftop PV installations. The cantonal measures aim to tap the still‑underutilised solar potential across the region and simplify the permitting process for private solar projects.