Solar installation – Baden-Württemberg
Legal basis
- EEG 2023 – feed-in tariff and funding (federal level)
- Solarspitzengesetz – obligation to have a smart meter and control unit for new installations from 7 kWp (since 25.02.2025); without a control unit, the grid operator permanently reduces feed-in to 60 % of installed capacity
- LBO BW (Landesbauordnung Baden-Württemberg) – solar obligation for new buildings, refurbishments and larger parking areas
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Solar obligation in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg was the first German state with a statutory solar obligation.
| Feature | Rule |
|---|---|
| New buildings (residential buildings) | Mandatory since 01.05.2022 |
| New buildings (non-residential buildings) | Mandatory for building applications from 01.01.2022 |
| Roof refurbishments | Mandatory since 01.01.2023 (>50 % of roof covering renewed) |
| Open parking spaces | Mandatory since 01.01.2022 for more than 35 spaces |
| Minimum capacity | ≥60 % of suitable roof area, alternatively minimum module area or 0,06 kWp per m² of built-up site area |
| Legal basis | LBO BW |
| Exemptions | Listed-building protection, north-facing orientation, shading, roof <50 m², economic unreasonableness |
Official obligations
| Step | Requirement | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register with the grid operator | all installations |
| 2 | Register in MaStR | all installations |
| 3 | Smart meter + control unit | mandatory installation from 7 kWp; voluntary for 2–7 kWp, otherwise 60 % feed-in reduction |
| 4 | Tax office | from >30 kWp |
Building permit: not required for roof installations. Exceptions: listed-building protection, ground-mounted installations.
Grid operators
| Region | Grid operator |
|---|---|
| Most of BW | EnBW Netze BW |
| Stuttgart | Stadtwerke Stuttgart |
| Freiburg | badenova Wärmeplus |
| Karlsruhe | Stadtwerke Karlsruhe |
| Ulm | SWU Netze |
Find your grid operator: postcode search at solar.red/netzbetreiber
Processing time: 4–8 Weeks | Statutory deadline up to 30 kWp: 4 Weeks (EEG 2024)
Funding in Baden-Württemberg
L-Bank – “Wohnen mit Zukunft: Photovoltaik”
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Low-interest loan (not a grant) |
| Financing scope | Up to 100 % of investment costs |
| Minimum loan | 5.000 € |
| Term | 5–30 Jahre, up to 5 repayment-free years, fixed nominal interest rate for the first 10 Jahre |
| Eligible | PV system, battery storage, roof/facade/carport PV |
| Condition | Owner occupation of at least one residential unit |
| Application | l-bank.de, via your bank |
| Can be combined with | EEG feed-in tariff, KfW 270, municipal grants |
Municipal grants (selection) – as of 07/2026
| City | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Stuttgart (Solaroffensive) | Active, new guideline since May 2026 | 300 €/kWp for rooftop PV, 400 €/kWp for green-roof/façade PV; storage eligible up to 1 kWh/kWp; max. 30.000 € per application; apply before commissioning work (except balcony PV: up to 3 Monate after purchase) |
| Karlsruhe (KlimaBonus) | Funding pot 2026 exhausted | Budget of 1,3 million euros fully committed, currently no new applications possible; alternatively use L-Bank + federal funding |
| Freiburg | Yes | Details from the city |
| Heidelberg | Yes | Details from the city |
| Mannheim | Yes | Details from the city |
| Ludwigsburg | Balcony power plant: 150 € | – |
Municipal programmes change frequently, always check the current status directly with the city.
EEG feed-in tariff (Q2/Q3 2026)
Uniform nationwide, applies unchanged in Baden-Württemberg.
| System size | Partial feed-in | Full feed-in |
|---|---|---|
| up to 10 kWp | 7,78 ct/kWh | 12,34 ct/kWh |
| 10–40 kWp | 6,73 ct/kWh | 10,35 ct/kWh |
| 40–100 kWp | 5,50 ct/kWh | 10,35 ct/kWh |
Valid: 01.02.2026 – 31.07.2026 | From 01.08.2026, reduction of 1 % (six-monthly reduction under § 49 EEG 2023). Systems already commissioned retain their tariff for 20 Jahre.
Installation steps BW
- Check the roof, where solar obligation applies: exemption only with written justification
- Apply for an L-Bank loan (before commissioning work)
- Check and apply for municipal grants, confirm the status first (e.g. Karlsruhe currently exhausted)
- Commission a certified specialist contractor
- Register with the grid operator (4–8 W weeks' lead time)
- Register in MaStR, have a smart meter installed
- Commissioning + acceptance report
Grid operator note: The table above shows common grid operators, it is not complete. The grid operator actually responsible depends solely on the postcode and not on the federal state. Find it by postcode search: solar.red/netzbetreiber
How to apply
1. Feed-in application to the grid operator
- Find the grid operator: Postcode search at solar.red/netzbetreiber
- Online portal of the grid operator (legally required since Jan. 2025)
- Complete the form: location, planned kWp capacity, feed-in type (partial or full feed-in)
- Wait for approval , statutory deadline: 4 W weeks (up to 30 kWp); automatically approved if no response after 1 month
- Tip: In many cases, the installer handles registration, ask when requesting a quote
2. MaStR registration (Marktstammdatenregister)
- Portal: marktstammdatenregister.de (Bundesnetzagentur)
- Deadline: within 1 month after commissioning (legal requirement)
- Required: system capacity (kWp), installation date, site postcode
- Tip: Many installers also complete the MaStR entry, clarify this in the quote
3. L-Bank loan (Baden-Württemberg)
Submit the application before commissioning the installer.
- Portal: l-bank.de → Wohnen mit Zukunft: Photovoltaik
- Apply through your bank , L-Bank works with partner banks (not directly)
- Form: investment total, system size, proof of building ownership
- Wait for approval → then commission the installer
- Municipal grant (e.g. Stuttgart), apply in parallel to the relevant city authority, Karlsruhe currently exhausted
4. KfW 270 (federal level)
- Through your bank apply (not directly to KfW)
- Portal for an overview: kfw.de/270
- Submit the application before commissioning work