As of 2022, it will be obligatory for all newly built non-residential buildings to install photovoltaic panels in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The move is part of the government’s upcoming amendment to the Climate Protection Act.
Environment Minister Franz Untersteller said:
We are the first federal state in which a solar system is installed as standard on new buildings in the non-residential area. It’s innovative and brave. This makes building modern and climate protection a matter of course.
A general photovoltaic obligation must come, says the environment minister. It’s good for the environment and the economy as it creates jobs.
While the approval for the photovoltaic requirement is still underway in the southeastern German state, the Hanseatic city of Hamburg has already passed such a law. However, there, it goes into effect as of 2023.
Under Germany’s current sustainability plans, by 2030, renewable sources will supply 65% of electricity with photovoltaic capacity providing 66 gigawatts. At the moment, solar power stands at 51 gigawatts.
There have been other solar mandates around the world in recent years. Back in 2013, Lancaster and Sebastopol passed on requiring solar panels on new homes. That started a domino effect of other cities in California passing mandates – such as Culver City, Santa Monica, and San Francisco. Then, South Miami became the first US city outside of California in 2017 to do it.
Switching continents, France passed a law in 2015 requiring new buildings in commercial zones to be topped with either green roofs or solar panels. And in the South Korean city of Soul, the government is winning climate change action awards for its ambitious efforts. They’ve been on a mission to fit panels on every public building and 1 million homes by 2022.
Such policies are wise and non-disruptive because solar panels can easily be incorporated into existing building standards. Just as a new building must have walls, a roof, and be hooked up the electric grid – they must have solar panels on top. Furthermore, solar (and other renewable sources) are already cheaper than fossil fuels in most parts of the world.
