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A solar power system without storage is no longer worthwhile. Why? Because self-consumption is increasingly more profitable than feeding the generated energy into the grid. This is due, on the one hand, to the low feed-in tariffs for PV systems, and on the other hand, to the sometimes very high electricity prices. As a result, energy storage systems, batteries, and accumulators for PV systems have become increasingly prevalent. However, it's not just the PV system itself that receives a subsidy; funding for energy storage is also available. What requirements must be met? When are storage systems for PV systems eligible for subsidies?
Why is a power storage system is useful?
A battery storage system allows you to store self-generated electricity from a photovoltaic system and also to absorb energy from the grid . The latter is particularly worthwhile in combination with a dynamic electricity tariff.
For most homeowners and owners of photovoltaic systems, the primary motivation for investing in a battery storage system is likely to be storing their own solar energy. This is an absolutely sensible measure, as purchased electricity from the grid is always significantly more expensive than self-generated energy. Even the feed-in tariff cannot compensate for this price difference.
A simple calculation example illustrates this financial imbalance:
Simply put, the electricity you produce yourself is free. If you use it yourself, you won't incur any additional electricity costs at that moment. However, if the electricity flows unused into the public grid, you currently only receive a feed-in tariff of approximately 7 to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, each kilowatt-hour purchased from the grid costs between 35 and 40 cents.
In concrete terms, this means: If you feed 5 kWh into the grid during the day, you receive approximately 35 to 40 cents in compensation. If you then have to buy these 5 kWh back from the grid in the evening – when the sun is no longer shining – you incur costs of 1.75 to 2 euros. You therefore end up paying several times what you previously earned.
What government subsidies are available for storage systems?
Energy storage systems for photovoltaic (PV) installations are subsidized by the government. Currently, all components for PV systems – including energy storage – are exempt from VAT. This regulation has been in effect since 2023. As a result, solar systems are 19% cheaper for private individuals and households, since the VAT surcharge is waived. The government aims to make purchasing a PV system with energy storage more affordable and ensure that the investment in a solar system pays off twice over.
Feed-in tariff
The feed-in tariff mentioned earlier also generally falls under government subsidies. However, this plays a rather minor role for electricity storage systems and is only relevant if the storage system is already full and the energy needs to be fed into the grid.
Tax exemption in the company
Even during operation, solar power systems (if used privately) generally remain tax-free. Previously, feed-in tariffs received had to be taxed. However, this regulation has been largely abolished.
Important: Most of these subsidies and tax exemption rules only apply if the solar system or energy storage unit is used privately. If it is used for commercial purposes, the rules for subsidies and taxes usually change.
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Subsidies for electricity storage systems in the individual federal states
Measures promoting photovoltaic systems and electricity storage are not limited to the federal level. Individual states have also created incentives for investing in storage. These vary from state to state and are not uniform. Here is an overview:
*Baden-Württemberg
In Baden-Württemberg, there is the "Living in the Future" program. The L-Bank subsidizes the purchase and installation of energy storage systems with low-interest loans. Currently, there are no other subsidies available for batteries.
*Bavaria
There are currently no statewide subsidies for electricity storage systems in the German state of Bavaria.
*Berlin
In Berlin, the " SolarPlus " funding program was launched . This program supports not only solar panels but also electricity storage systems. For single-family and two-family homes, a subsidy of €300 per installed kilowatt-hour is paid, up to a maximum of €15,000.
In multi-family houses, the maximum is 65 percent of the costs, with the limit also being 15,000 euros.
(Updated November 25, 2025: SolarPLUS Application Pause. Due to the high number of applications, the acceptance of applications for the SolarPLUS funding program is temporarily suspended. During this time, applications already received will be processed. The revised program is expected to reopen for new applications on January 2, 2026. All applications received up to and including October 31, 2025, will of course be processed.)
*North Rhine-Westphalia
The funding program for North Rhine-Westphalia was discontinued in 2024.
*Brandenburg
Currently, there is no funding program for electricity storage available in Brandenburg .
*Bremen
There is currently no funding available for storage systems in Bremen.
*Hamburg
Currently, no subsidies are available in Hamburg for the purchase of a PV battery.
*Hesse
The state loan in Hesse has been temporarily suspended.
*Lower Saxony
In Lower Saxony, the funding program was already exhausted in 2021.
*Rhineland-Palatinate
There is currently no subsidy for battery storage in Rhineland-Palatinate.
*Saarland
Subsidies for electricity storage systems are no longer available in Saarland.
*Saxony-Anhalt
The funding program for storage facilities was discontinued here in 2023.
*Saxony
Anyone planning a PV system with storage in Saxony can still use the so-called Saxony loan for systems with a capacity of over 30 kWp.
*Schleswig-Holstein
he funding program was discontinued in 2023.
*Thuringia
Funding in Thuringia was already exhausted by 2022.
Municipal funding for batteries and storage systems
In addition to federal and state subsidies, some cities, towns, and municipalities still offer grants for the purchase of solar panels or energy storage systems. These offers vary considerably, are often very limited, and can be discontinued at short notice . Therefore, it is advisable to do some research to find out if and what kind of funding your local municipality offers.
Especially in larger cities, the chances of receiving a subsidy are good. In Bavaria, for example, the cities of Regensburg and Würzburg offer funding. Darmstadt, Hanover, and Düsseldorf also provide subsidies for purchases, depending on the individual case.
-Municipality of Steinhagen
The budget for this year has been exhausted. No further applications can be accepted.
-City of Düsseldorf
The " Climate-Friendly Living and Working " program in Düsseldorf provides funding for private individuals and businesses. The subsidy amounts to €250 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of storage capacity, with a maximum funding amount of €10,000. Applications must be submitted before commissioning any work.
-City of Elmshorn
Elmshorn is promoting battery storage systems in conjunction with photovoltaic systems through its " Climate Protection Fund ." The current application period opened on October 1, 2025. A flat-rate subsidy of up to €500 is available, but the subsidy may not exceed 50% of the investment costs.
-City of Frankfurt am Main
The " Climate Bonus " program is aimed at private individuals, companies, and homeowners' associations. Battery storage systems are only subsidized in conjunction with a newly installed photovoltaic system. The subsidy amounts to 20% of the eligible costs (joint projects receive an additional bonus of five percentage points. The maximum subsidy is €100,000).
-City of Marburg
The " Climate-Friendly Living " grant program supports residents and homeowners. It offers €500 for conventional lithium-ion storage systems and up to €1,500 for innovative/sustainable storage solutions (e.g., saltwater batteries). The grant is usually linked to a photovoltaic (PV) installation. Status as of November 25, 2025: the grant program is suspended pending revision of the funding guidelines, and therefore no applications can currently be submitted.
-City of Troisdorf
The funds for the city's funding program were fully exhausted in the 2025 budget. No funding is currently available for 2026. A decision regarding the continuation of the funding program is expected as part of the budget approval process (likely in May 2026).
-City of Waiblingen
Electricity storage systems in residential buildings are eligible for funding. For every 1 kWh of electricity storage capacity, at least 1 kWp of PV capacity must be installed. The maximum eligible storage capacity is 8 kWh. Maximum funding amount: €800 per property
-Seefeld Municipality
The " Energy Support Program " (guidelines valid from January 1, 2025) supports owners in installing new photovoltaic systems. If these are combined with an intelligently controlled battery storage system, the subsidy amounts to 500 euros.
-Municipality of Unterhaching
The " Energy Saving and Climate Protection " program supports owners of existing buildings (not new buildings). The subsidy for battery storage systems amounts to 10% of the net investment costs, but no more than €1,000.
-City of Freiburg
As of June 1, 2025, according to a decision by the municipal council, there will no longer be a subsidy for the purchase of a battery storage system for photovoltaic systems.
-City of Neuburg an der Donau
The city is subsidizing photovoltaic systems with battery storage. Private homeowners with their primary residence in Neuburg are eligible for funding. The subsidy is based on the PV output (50 euros per kWp, maximum 400 euros), but requires the installation of a storage system with a minimum capacity of 4 kWh.
-City of Stuttgart
The City of Stuttgart's " Solar Offensive " offers very attractive conditions for homeowners and tenants. For electricity storage systems in conjunction with a newly installed photovoltaic (PV) system, there is a subsidy of €300 per kWh of usable capacity. The maximum subsidy amounts are very high (up to €20,000 per application, depending on the system size).
What KfW funding programs are available for storage systems?
Those who want more than just a grant can find a low-interest loan at KfW. The KfW 270 program offers loans with terms of five to 30 years and an effective annual interest rate of as low as 3.25 percent. Creditworthiness is the determining factor.
Furthermore, experts believe that the interest rates are only marginally better than those offered by other banks, and the subsidized loan is already difficult to obtain for many single-family homes due to the eligibility criteria. Therefore, whether the KfW 270 loan is truly worthwhile is questionable and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
How Large should the energy storage system be?
The size, or rather the capacity, of a battery storage system should be determined by both the output of the solar panels and the household's annual electricity consumption . Ultimately, the most economical capacity must be found, taking all relevant factors into account. Factors such as a dynamic electricity tariff also play a role, as this might necessitate the storage of additional electricity drawn from the grid .
Generally speaking, for an annual electricity consumption of up to 5,000 kWh, a storage capacity of around 5 kWh is usually sufficient. Those who consume more electricity or want to be as independent as possible from their electricity provider can also consider storage capacities of up to 25 kWh. However, it's important to remember that an electricity storage system is always the most expensive component in a solar power system and therefore plays a crucial role in calculating its economic viability.
Energy storage for balcony power plants
Even more worthwhile than with large solar installations are energy storage systems for balcony power plants . These small solar systems, typically with a maximum of four solar panels, are not only very cost-effective, but can also be connected directly to standard household outlets using a Schuko plug . This makes them particularly easy to install, requiring no professional help or permits.
The only downside: there's no feed-in tariff for the electricity. If the energy isn't used directly, it simply goes into the public grid without any compensation. This makes it all the more important to use as much of the energy as possible yourself. Anyone without a sufficiently high base load should definitely invest in a battery storage system. This allows you to store all the solar power that isn't currently being used and access it later when more electricity is needed or the sun isn't shining. It's financially worthwhile!
The best part: Storage systems for balcony power plants are not only significantly cheaper, starting at around €399, but there are also subsidies available for these energy storage systems. In addition to the VAT exemption (which also applies here), there are primarily regional and municipal subsidies. It's therefore worthwhile to check the specifics for each individual case.
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Electricity storage subsidies: Buy now and save twice!
To encourage the storage and self-consumption of more electricity in the future, the government has provided various subsidies for electricity storage systems. Expanding this infrastructure is becoming increasingly important, also with regard to grid stability. However, it is questionable how long these subsidies for storage (and solar panels) will remain available. Almost all German states have already discontinued their subsidies, or the funds have been exhausted and not increased.
The federal government, or rather the current government, is also constantly discussing cuts to subsidies. It's therefore possible that subsidies such as VAT exemption, feed-in tariffs, or other tax breaks will be eliminated or reduced in the foreseeable future . Anyone seriously considering purchasing a PV system or storage should therefore make a decision soon, taking into account the availability of subsidies for electricity storage.
Official sources from Zendure.de
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