Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Brandenburg Passes Overhaul of Wind and Solar Levies, Sets €5,000‑Per‑MW Charge From 2026

Weak monitoring alongside a dropped transparency rule casts doubt on whether the higher payments will reliably reach municipalities.

Overview

  • Lawmakers consolidated separate wind and solar rules and replaced the flat €10,000 per turbine fee with a €5,000 per megawatt annual charge for plants commissioned from 1 January 2026.
  • Municipalities are explicitly allowed to use levy receipts to lower residents’ electricity costs as part of efforts to bolster local acceptance.
  • Solar-plant payments remain at €2,000 per megawatt per year under the merged framework, according to the approved changes.
  • Investigative data show only about 80% of levy money due for 2020–2024 had arrived by October 2025, with some operators acknowledging missed payments and local offices reporting large shortfalls.
  • The state has imposed no fines and conducted no proactive checks since 2019, a transparency requirement was removed from the new law, and industry groups warn the higher rate could strain project economics, citing roughly €30,000 a year for a 6‑MW turbine.