German Bundesrat Seeks Changes to the EEG Reform That Ends Fixed Feed-In Tariffs for New Small Solar
Germany's Bundesrat has adopted a statement asking for changes to the government's draft reform of the renewable energy law, including a longer transition for payments to small rooftop solar systems.
What the draft law proposes
The federal government sent its draft EEG reform to the Bundestag on 10 September. According to the Bundestag's summary, it abolishes the fixed feed-in tariff for new small rooftop solar systems, so new operators sell their power directly on the market. Systems under 25 kW keep a fixed payment only until the end of 2028, shortened from 20 years to 3 years and cut from roughly 8 cents to 5.2 cents per kWh.
The law is intended to take effect in 2027 and needs the Bundestag's approval and a green light from the European Commission.
What the Bundesrat asked for
On 25 September the Bundesrat adopted its statement on the draft at its 1068th session. It asks that changes to the remuneration of small solar systems be postponed until a full impact assessment and consultation have been carried out.
On the detail, it wants the transition payment extended for plants up to 50 kW and the start of mandatory direct marketing pushed back, with the transition lasting at least to the end of 2030. It also asks for a statutory payment claim for smaller plants after the transition ends, a market premium for systems under 25 kW and a 7 kW threshold for direct marketing.
On the grid side, it asks that operators be required to offer a flexible connection agreement where capacity is short, and that smart meters be preferred over interim solutions.
What this means for home batteries
In the part of the Bundesrat text we could read, there is no specific demand on home batteries. The document is long and we read the first part of it, so we cannot rule out a mention elsewhere.
The link is indirect. If payments for exported solar power fall, the value of using more of your own generation rises relative to export, which is one reason storage is discussed alongside this reform. We have not modelled it, and the outcome will depend on the final law and on prices.
What happens next
The Bundesrat's statement is an opinion on the draft, not a decision on the law. The Bundestag decides, and the draft could change. Our Germany country guide explains the current home battery rules, and our piece on the European market puts the reform in context.
Sources
- Bundesrat: Stellungnahme zum EEG-Entwurf, Drucksache 470/26 (Beschluss, 25 September 2026)
- Deutscher Bundestag: Gesetzentwurf EEG-Novelle 2027, hib 701/2026 (10 September 2026)
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