Germany’s Solar Self-Consumption Surges To 12.28 TWh In 2024, Reaching 17% Of PV Generation

Self-consumption of solar power in Germany has increased sharply in recent years as more photovoltaic system owners are using the electricity they generate instead of feeding it into the grid. Until 2009, very little solar electricity was used directly by system owners because the feed-in tariff paid for solar power sold to the grid was higher than the cost of electricity purchased from the grid. As this situation reversed and sector coupling expanded usage opportunities, self-consumption has become economically attractive.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed the first method to quantify photovoltaic self-consumption using data from the market master data register and transmission system operators. Their findings were published in an analysis for the German Federal Environment Agency.

The data shows that self-consumption has risen dramatically over the past decade. It increased moderately from 0.25 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2012 to 3.55 TWh in 2020. By 2022, the figure had already reached 5.57 TWh. For 2023, self-consumption totaled 8.20 TWh. In 2024, it rose further to 12.28 TWh. With this increase, self-consumption accounted for 17% of net electricity generation from photovoltaics in 2024, compared to 13% in 2023. Tobias Reuther, data expert for renewable electricity generation at Fraunhofer ISE, highlighted the significant growth and the rising share of direct solar use.

Researchers expect the trend to continue due to high electricity prices and the growing success of battery storage systems. Christoph Kost, head of Energy System Analysis at Fraunhofer ISE, noted that self-consumption is highly beneficial for households using solar power to operate heat pumps or charge electric cars. It is also advantageous for grid stability because electricity is consumed directly where it is produced without entering the power grid.

The evaluation is based on categorizing PV installations by commissioning year, system size, and type. The research team analyzed feed-in patterns and storage systems to estimate self-consumption across 44 different groups. The results are part of a broader publication series covering eight renewable technologies, including developments in heat pumps.