- Energy Association: Solar boom in NRW continues
In North Rhine-Westphalia, around 106,000 photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of 1,059 megawatts were newly installed in the first half of the year. This continues the dynamic solar expansion in the most populous federal state at approximately the same level as the previous year, the Renewable Energy Association (LEE) in Düsseldorf announced.
"In the federal state comparison, NRW ranks third after the first six months of this year, after Bavaria (capacity: 1,841 MW) and Baden-Württemberg (capacity: 1,096 MW)," according to preliminary reports in the market data register, a register of all plants and units in the German energy system maintained by the Federal Network Agency.
Independent through own photovoltaic systems
"The solar boom in NRW continues to be encouraging," summarized LEE chairman Hans-Josef Vogel. The driving force behind this development is the desire of many citizens, as well as industrial and commercial enterprises, to become independent of rising energy prices through their own photovoltaic systems.
According to LEE's analysis, the most new solar installations have been installed in the districts of Soest (57 MW), Steinfurt (54 MW), and the Rhein-Erft district (51 MW) so far this year. Among the larger, independent cities, Dortmund (23.15 MW), Cologne (20.75 MW), and Münster (13.15 MW) are in the top 3.
LEE: Bitter pill
However, there is still a bitter pill to swallow, Vogel criticized: "The number of larger, more cost-effective free-field installations is negligible." He referred to the federal government's solar strategy, which aims for future solar expansion to be equally divided between rooftop and free-field installations. "NRW is currently far from this goal."
More support from the political sphere - for example, in information campaigns and the designation of solar free-fields - is needed. "NRW is on the brink of a solar boom, but it won't happen by itself," Vogel warned.
The Federal Network Agency, responsible for maintaining the market data register, recently reported that North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) ranks third in terms of photovoltaic capacity installed in the first half of the year, after Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The Federal Network Agency plays a crucial role in monitoring and tracking the growth of renewable energy sources in Germany.
To propel NRW towards its solar expansion goals, Vogel from LEE suggested that the political sphere should provide more support, such as through information campaigns and the designation of solar free-fields. This additional support from the government, according to Vogel, could help NRW overcome its current shortage of larger, more cost-effective free-field installations and fully realize its potential solar boom.
