Overview

• Economics Minister Katherina Reiche proposes scrapping guaranteed feed-in payments for new small rooftop solar systems and redirecting support to large projects and flexible gas-fired capacity.
• Recent reporting highlights immediate local effects, with households in places like Brandenburg unable to feed surplus power into the grid due to distribution constraints.
• The government says energy sharing will be made easier and plans emphasize wider smart meter adoption to better integrate small producers with market signals.
• Solar installers, trade groups and Greens warn of slowed rooftop uptake, job risks and social inequities, while some economists argue funds should instead bolster grids and storage.
• Commentators caution that building more gas capacity could raise emissions and increase dependencies even as the ministry argues the shift is necessary to control costs and ensure security.