Solar feed-in tariff 2026: what you get paid
In 2026, new solar systems in Germany still receive a fixed feed-in tariff (Einspeisevergütung) guaranteed for 20 years. But a leaked 2027 reform draft could end fixed rates for small plants — and many owners are waiting months for their money right now.
The EEG feed-in tariff for new small PV is a low single-digit cents-per-kWh rate, fixed for 20 years plus the year of commissioning. Partial feed-in (you self-consume part) pays roughly 7-8 ct/kWh; full feed-in (everything goes to the grid) pays noticeably more. Rates for new systems step down by about 1% every six months, so the exact figure depends on your commissioning date — check the current EEG rate for the month you connect.
Systems up to about 100 kWp can take the fixed feed-in tariff. Larger plants (100 kWp and above) must sell via direct marketing (Direktvermarktung) and are obliged to be remotely controllable (FRE) — since 2021. Here you earn the market price plus a market premium (the 'anzulegender Wert' minus the market value), plus a small management premium. Example values seen in practice: around 7.1 ct/kWh anzulegender Wert with a ~0.12 ct/kWh management premium.
Under §51 EEG, feed-in is not remunerated during hours of negative day-ahead exchange prices. For systems with a smart meter (iMSys) in direct marketing this bites hourly, so exporting during price-negative periods earns nothing. This is why battery storage and self-consumption increasingly beat pure grid export.
A common 2026 problem is not the tariff itself but the payout: many PV and CHP operators wait months for legally owed remuneration. The main cause is grid operators' IT migration, not a formal error on your side. If payments are overdue, document meter readings and feed-in volumes and formally request the outstanding market-premium/feed-in payment from your grid operator.
PRELIMINARY / unconfirmed (as of 06/2026): a leaked BMWE reform draft (Minister Reiche) plans to end the fixed feed-in tariff for new small PV up to 25 kWp from 01.01.2027, making direct marketing and self-consumption the standard. The ministry reportedly confirmed the core points in March 2026, but no official draft is published yet. BSW-Solar warns of a 'Kahlschlag' (clear-cut) for rooftop solar. Treat this as planned, not law.
If you're building in 2026, you can still lock in today's 20-year fixed tariff by commissioning before any 2027 cut takes effect — but don't count on unconfirmed dates. Size your system for high self-consumption, consider a battery to avoid negative-price hours, and keep proof of feed-in volumes so you can chase delayed payouts.