Balcony power systems in Cologne

Balcony power systems in Cologne: funding and application

Overview

Balcony power systems are small photovoltaic systems for a plug socket. They are also called plug-in solar devices or mini PV systems. The City of Cologne supports them through the programme Photovoltaik: klimafreundliches Wohnen, part of Klimafreundliches Wohnen und Arbeiten.

Funding in Cologne

Owners, holders of hereditary building rights or usufruct rights, as well as tenants and leaseholders are eligible to apply. The building must be an existing building: at the time of application, the construction completion notice must date back at least five years. The system must be a complete set from a provider; the city excludes self-built devices but permits self-installation.

For plug-in solar devices, there is an exception to the usual apply-before-you-buy principle: purchase is possible before submitting the application, at your own risk. Submit the application no later than three months after purchase. The maximum total funding is 10.000 EUR per building and calendar year across all programme measures.

Programme page: stadt-koeln.de, Photovoltaik: klimafreundliches Wohnen

Local providers

State and federal funding

North Rhine-Westphalia had a state programme for solar systems, progres.nrw. The state has since discontinued this programme. Since January 2023, the zero VAT rate has applied nationwide to private photovoltaic systems. The technical rules and the registration requirement in the Marktstammdatenregister apply uniformly nationwide. Details can be found in the basic document Balkonkraftwerke in Deutschland.

Tenants' rights

Under § 554 BGB, tenants are entitled to install a plug-in solar device. Landlords may not impose a blanket ban on installation. They may set reasonable conditions, for example on the type of mounting. Tenants can also apply for Cologne funding.

Registration with the grid operator

The grid operator in Cologne is RheinEnergie AG. Since Solarpaket I, separate registration with the grid operator is no longer required. RheinEnergie also offers a voluntary online form that you can use to report the balcony power system directly.

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