Solar panel users often experience extensive delays, with some facing waiting periods exceeding one year, for their investments to be returned. - Solar plant operators occasionally face delays in receiving their earnings, extending payment periods beyond the usual 12 months.
In several federal states of Germany, solar panel owners are encountering significant delays in receiving their feed-in compensation, primarily due to administrative bottlenecks and regional processing inefficiencies associated with the implementation of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG).
In Saxony, the surge in solar installations has overwhelmed local grid offices, leading to extended waiting times for feed-in tariff payments. In response, the region is increasing staffing levels at grid operators and streamlining digital application processes to expedite compensation approvals.
Saxony-Anhalt faces similar administrative delays, compounded by funding shortfalls and slower bureaucratic adaptation to revised EEG rules, particularly affecting smaller and community-owned solar projects. To address these issues, the region is deploying enhanced IT systems to automate verification and coordinating with federal agencies to secure interim funding to stabilise payment flows.
Thuringia grapples with challenges related to both technical grid integration complexity and limited personnel capacity at responsible agencies, further slowing feed-in claim processing. The state is investing in training programs to broaden administrative expertise and piloting projects to better integrate solar feed-in data with grid management systems for faster processing.
At the federal level, Germany's revised Renewable Energy Act provides legislated feed-in tariffs and requires local operators to implement standardised, more efficient procedures, supported by EU funding for digital infrastructure improvements. These reforms aim to reduce delays in compensation payments and smooth the integration of growing solar capacity into the energy grid.
While these regional efforts are underway, solar panel owners in these states are experiencing delays of up to a year in receiving their feed-in compensation. In some cases, compensation has not been paid since 2023, as reported by the Consumer Center in Saxony-Anhalt.
Claudia Kreft, an energy expert at the Thuringia Consumer Center, expressed concern, stating that people are not receiving their money. TEN, the grid operator in Thuringia, did not respond to a request for comment. Complaints have been reported against Mitnetz, the grid operator in both Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
The process from registration to billing currently takes about 20 weeks in both Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. In Saxony-Anhalt, the delays are reportedly due to an IT conversion affecting older applications, according to a spokesperson for Mitnetz. In all three states, the final new values for feed-in compensation will be published by the Federal Network Agency on August 1st.
For small plants, the current feed-in compensation is 7.94 cents per kilowatt hour for partial feed-in, and 12.60 cents for full feed-in. As a reminder, the feed-in compensation decreases by one percent every half year from August 1st.
Despite the challenges, the transition to renewable energy and the rapid solar expansion continue to be a priority for the German government. These issues underscore the need for continued focus on improving administrative efficiency and digital infrastructure to ensure timely compensation for solar panel owners.
In an effort to improve the situation, Saxony-Anhalt is incorporating environmental science and finance to address funding shortfalls and streamline bureaucratic procedures, while also deploying advanced IT systems to automate verification and coordinate with federal agencies to secure interim funding.
Thuringia, on the other hand, recognizes the need for vocational training programs to broaden administrative expertise and pilot projects to better integrate solar feed-in data with grid management systems, aiming to expedite compensation approvals.
To ensure the smooth integration of solar panels and the timely delivery of compensation nationwide, the revised Renewable Energy Act in Germany emphasizes the implementation of standardized, efficient procedures, backed by EU funding for digital infrastructure improvements in the industry, as well as vocational training and renewable-energy oriented educational programs to equip the workforce effectively.
