Feed-in Tariff Calculator Germany 2026

How the Feed-in Tariff Works (EEG)

Germany's feed-in tariff is regulated by the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). If you operate a photovoltaic system and feed electricity into the public grid, you receive a legally guaranteed payment per kilowatt-hour — for 20 years from commissioning.

Legal basis: § 48 EEG 2023

Current Feed-in Tariff Rates 2026

For systems up to 10 kWp, the following rates apply in 2026:

• Partial feed-in (Teileinspeisung): 7.78 ct/kWh — you consume part of the electricity yourself and feed the surplus into the grid
• Full feed-in (Volleinspeisung): 12.34 ct/kWh — all generated electricity goes into the grid

Tariff rates decrease by 1% every six months (degression). Installing earlier locks in a higher rate.

Full vs. Partial Feed-in

Partial feed-in is more profitable in most cases. Self-consumed electricity saves about 30 ct/kWh — nearly four times the partial feed-in rate. Only at very low self-consumption rates (below 10%) does full feed-in become worthwhile.

Full feed-in offers 12.34 ct/kWh, but you must then buy all your electricity from the grid. For an average household using 4,000 kWh per year, that means about EUR 1,200 per year in electricity costs.

EEG Reform 2027: Is the Feed-in Tariff Ending?

The current draft of the EEG reform proposes that new PV systems from 2027 may no longer receive a feed-in tariff. Instead, operators would have to sell their electricity on the open market — which would be significantly less attractive for small rooftop systems.

Key point: If you commission your system in 2026, you lock in the current rate for the full 20 years. This is a strong argument not to delay installation.

Tax Benefits for PV Systems in Germany

Since 2023, significant tax benefits apply to photovoltaic systems:

• 0% VAT on purchase and installation of PV systems and battery storage (§ 12 Abs. 3 UStG)
• Income tax exemption for systems up to 30 kWp (§ 3 Nr. 72 EStG) — feed-in income is tax-free

This means: no tax return required for your solar system, no business registration needed, no VAT to file.

Battery Storage: When Does It Pay Off?

A battery storage system typically increases self-consumption from 30% to 60-80%. At a cost of about EUR 800/kWh, the battery pays for itself through higher self-consumption savings. Use our calculator above to compare the difference directly.

More calculators: Work expenses calculator and Depreciation calculator