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Ground-Mounted Solar · Remuneration

Solar Ground-Mounted EEG Auction — Volume, Prices, Competition

In short: EEG remuneration (feed-in support under the German Renewable Energy Sources Act) for ground-mounted solar plants is allocated by auction through the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA, Federal Network Agency). Volume in 2025: 9,900 MW total, evenly distributed across three bidding rounds. The round on 01.07.2025 was awarded with 258 bids / 2,271 MW — prices between 4.00 and 6.26 ct/kWh (sources: BNetzA, round of 01.07.2025).

Key figures 2025

MetricValue
Total ground-mounted solar auction volume 20259,900 MW
Distribution3 bidding rounds per calendar year
Awarded bids, round of 01.07.2025258
Awarded volume, round of 01.07.20252,271 MW
Lowest awarded bid value4.00 ct/kWh
Highest awarded bid value6.26 ct/kWh
December 2025 roundheavily oversubscribed (source: Solarserver)

How the procedure works

  • Plant size: ground-mounted solar plants of 1 MWp output and above are covered; plants below 1 MWp are supported outside the auction.
  • Pay-as-bid: Each award is remunerated at its own bid, not at the highest awarded price (unlike a uniform-price model).
  • Maximum value (Höchstwert): The BNetzA sets a ceiling value before each round, above which no awards are granted.
  • Security deposit (Sicherheitsleistung): Bidders must lodge a security before participating, which can be forfeited if the project is not realised.
  • Realisation obligation: Awarded projects must go into operation within a deadline, otherwise penalties (Pönalen) become due.

Who wins awards

  • Conversion sites (Konversionsflächen) (former military / mining / industrial land) — historically often with good award chances.
  • Privileged corridor sites (motorway/rail, see Permitting) — a new large category since Solar Package I (Solarpaket I).
  • Disadvantaged agricultural land (benachteiligte landwirtschaftliche Flächen) under state-level ordinance.
  • Special categories such as floating PV and car-park canopies via the innovation auction (Innovationsausschreibung).
Strategic note: The auction ceiling values tend to fall with each round — anyone bringing a project to maturity should choose the round carefully. A rough viability check via the LCOE calculator helps set the bidding window realistically.
Solar ground-mounted EEG auction 2025: 5-step procedure (project maturity → security → bid → BNetzA award → realisation), 9,900 MW volume, 3 rounds/year, price range 4.00–6.26 ct/kWh — source: Bundesnetzagentur

Solar EEG auction procedure — 5 steps from project to remuneration, 2025 data

PPA as an alternative

For plants that are economically viable without an EEG award (or where the EEG ceiling values are too low), a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) is the standard route — a direct electricity supply contract with an off-taker, often fixed over 10–15 years. Large parks (> 50 MWp) are today almost exclusively built on a PPA-financed basis.

Frequently asked questions

How does the EEG remuneration compare to the market price?

The awarded prices (4–6 ct/kWh) are usually below the average market prices — the EEG market premium makes up the difference. The market premium page provides concrete quarter-by-quarter comparisons.

What happens after 20 years of EEG support?

The plant switches to direct marketing at the market price. For solar this is often more attractive economically than for wind, because solar OPEX is low.

Who advises on bidding strategy?

Experienced developers and energy consultancies — we refer on request. Individual advice on auction strategy goes beyond the scope of this portal.