Germany set to launch incentives for PV storage systems

The German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) is expected to introduce incentives for PV energy storage systems in February 2013.

A spokesperson from BSW-Solar, an association which represents the common commercial interests of businesses within the solar industry, revealed to PV-Tech that it expects the BMU to make an official announcement on the incentives in the next few weeks.

Citing a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, BSW said that grid-connected storage systems could increase the network capacity by 66% while the production could be reduced by 40%.

BSW-Solar has welcomed the news of the imminent incentive programme. However, Jörg Mayer, managing director of BSW, highlighted that the programme must set out transparent conditions.

Earlier this week, Germany established a new organisation called the Federal Association of Energy Storage in order to advance the development of a stable energy storage market in Germany.