Overview
- An Allensbach survey of owner-occupiers finds nearly two-thirds already have or plan a rooftop PV system within five years, and PV ownership is linked to far higher rates of adding a heat pump or an electric car than among those without PV.
- KfW reports that 16% of all households have rooftop solar and that owning a single- or two-family house is a key enabler, leaving many renters and apartment residents facing structural barriers.
- The adoption gap by income is pronounced, with 50% of wealthy households using at least one energy-transition technology versus 16% in the lowest-income quartile, a disparity that has widened over the past year.
- Cost is the dominant hurdle: respondents’ average willingness to pay is about €12,000 for PV and €16,000 for a heat pump, well below typical market prices, and most say they depend on public funding as Union and SPD move to revive EV purchase incentives.
- Public support remains high but active willingness to invest has fallen to 59%, and DIW researchers warn that perceived unfairness over costs is fueling polarizing narratives unless policies add fair compensation and clear communication.