Press Releases - 16.04.2024
Eschborn, April 16, 2024: With the passing of the “Solar Package I,” the Bundestag today cleared the way for much easier use of solar power in apartment buildings. Gero Lücking, Head of Smart Metering at Techem, has this to say:
“The ‘community building supply’ will bring the breakthrough for photovoltaics in the multi-family house sector. What is already common practice today with self-generation and the use of solar power in more than two million single-family homes is now being transferred to apartment buildings. This means that tenants or homeowners’ associations will also be able to benefit from the advantages of self-generated solar power and the energy transition in the future.
Image information: Gero Lücking, Head of Smart Metering. (Copyright: Techem)
The model is quite simple: the owner invests in the solar system and offers the self-generated electricity to the residents. Smart meters record generation and consumption. In the future, tenants could receive an annual bill for their share of solar power in addition to the usual heating and ancillary cost bills. Their electricity consumption from the grid will then be reduced by this amount. Tenants benefit from lower electricity costs and climate-friendly generation on the roof, while landlords can make the investment worthwhile by marketing their own property.
We are convinced that, like heating systems today, photovoltaic systems will soon be a standard feature of residential and commercial properties. The law creates an unbureaucratic ‘win-win situation’ for owners and tenants that is good for the wallet and for the climate. With our many years of experience in smart metering and billing, Techem will be able to contribute to making solar power a reality for as many people in Germany as possible.”
Following a record year in 2023 with new installations of 14 gigawatts, the German government wants to increase the annual expansion of photovoltaics to 22 gigawatts. According to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), a total of 215 gigawatts of solar energy is to contribute to Germany’s electricity supply by 2030. Half of this expansion is to take place on the roofs of residential and commercial properties.
With the so-called “Solar Package I” (draft law to amend the Renewable Energy Sources Act and other energy industry regulations to increase the expansion of photovoltaic energy generation), the German government is removing hurdles in the current tenant electricity model under the Renewable Energy Sources Act. In doing so, it is creating new and unbureaucratic opportunities for the supply of solar power, particularly in cities and conurbations.
About Techem
Techem is a leading service provider for smart and sustainable buildings. The company's services cover energy management and resource conservation, residential health and process efficiency in real estate. Founded in 1952, the company is now active in 18 countries with around 4,300 employees and services more than 13 million homes. Techem offers efficiency improvements along the entire value chain of heat and water in real estate. As the market leader in remote radio detection of energy consumption in homes, Techem continues to drive networking and digital processes in real estate. Modern radio smoke detectors with remote inspection and services related to improving drinking water quality in properties complement the solution portfolio for the housing industry. For more information, visit www.techem.com/corp/en.
