Our Photovoltaic System

This project is much more than just an investment; it is a clear commitment to our environmental responsibility and our desire for maximum energy independence. However, the path from the initial idea, which arose at the end of 2022, to smooth operation was afflicted with unexpected hurdles and taught us valuable, albeit costly, lessons.

The battle with bureaucracy

What began as a straightforward project—after all, it involves covering an already sealed parking area—turned into a lengthy process. The building permit alone took us over six months to obtain. It was an experience that made it clear to us that common sense often reaches its limits in the world of bureaucracy.

Despite the clear ecological added value and the absence of negative structural impacts, the administrative process was an odyssey.

In addition to the bureaucratic hurdles, there was the fact that we financed this forward-looking project entirely privately. Apart from low-interest KfW loans, which would only have eased the financial burden, there was no direct subsidy program at the municipal, state, or federal level that was tailored to our type of project. The lack of any subsidies or direct support programs stands in stark contrast to the political goals of the energy transition.

The actual construction phase also took much longer than expected, lasting around eight to ten months. Unfortunately, there was little evidence of efficient and targeted support for such climate protection projects.

The unexpected hurdle of direct marketing

The biggest surprise was hidden in grid integration. Due to the original system size of over 100 kwp, we were legally obliged to engage in so-called direct marketing. This would have meant trading our surplus electricity on the electricity exchange—an undertaking that would have been fraught with incalculable risks, variable revenues, and service fees, and even the danger of negative electricity prices.

In view of this unattractive and unpredictable situation, we made a far-reaching decision: We had the system scaled back to a capacity of less than 100 kWp. Specifically, this meant that we switched off the surplus modules in order to circumvent the legal direct marketing obligation. This step allowed us to return to uncomplicated feed-in to the local grid – a solution we had wanted from the beginning.

Initial successes and looking ahead

From an economic perspective, the system in its current form will pay for itself in 15 years at the earliest, but it is already paying off today in ecological terms. We produce sustainable electricity, thereby significantly reducing the demand for fossil fuels and the associated emissions, which represents invaluable added value.

In order to further optimize economic efficiency and autonomy, we are considering installing storage systems to cover energy consumption at night as well. However, this is a complex, cost-intensive project that requires a sound basis for decision-making. We are waiting for data from at least one full year of operation before making a decision.

The conclusion: a success despite everything

Despite all the adversities—the nerve-wracking communication processes, bureaucratic resistance, and confusing legal situation—we consider the project a success. It was a thankless task to implement, but we have shown that we are prepared to take unconventional paths to stand up for our convictions.

We have now made a valuable contribution to climate protection and achieved greater independence from fossil fuels. However, our experience, with a few positive exceptions among local service providers, also shows that politicians urgently need to provide more active support for such forward-looking projects and simplify the process.

We look forward to continuing to monitor the development of our photovoltaic systemt and incorporating the data we have collected into future decisions.

October 23, 2025