Balcony solar systems in Hamburg

Balcony solar systems in Hamburg: funding and application

Overview

Balcony solar systems are small photovoltaic systems that plug into a socket. They are also called plug-in solar devices or mini PV systems. Hamburg specifically supports low-income households through the “Strom vom Balkon” programme.

Funding in Hamburg

Eligible households are those receiving Bürgergeld, social assistance, basic income support in old age, housing benefit, asylum seeker benefits, child allowance, BAföG, or with a net income below the attachment exemption threshold. The programme runs from October 2025 to July 2027, with a budget of around 580.000 EUR, funded by the Bundesumweltministerium and the City of Hamburg.

Caritas Hamburg provides free advice, checks eligibility and supports the application process.

Programme page: hamburg.de, Strom vom Balkon

Local providers

State and federal funding

Hamburg is a city-state and therefore both a federal state and a city, so the “Strom vom Balkon” programme already covers the state level. Since January 2023, the zero VAT rate for private photovoltaic systems has applied nationwide. The technical rules and registration requirement in the Marktstammdatenregister apply uniformly throughout Germany. Details can be found in the basic document Balcony solar systems in Germany.

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 concerning the type of mounting.

Registration with the grid operator

The grid operator in Hamburg is Stromnetz Hamburg GmbH. Since Solarpaket I, separate registration with the grid operator is no longer required. The grid operator receives the information automatically through the Marktstammdatenregister.

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