Tübingen gives rooftop solar an extra nudge
Despite the massive amount of solar power output in Europe this summer and the technology’s falling prices, building owners are still reluctant to put panels on their roofs. Tübingen, Germany is introducing legislation to force change
Solar power output reached record heights in Europe this summer thanks to the long heatwave that gripped the region. Private solar owners also benefited, reaping high yields. Despite such gains, individuals and businesses remain slow to install photovoltaic systems on their roofs. The historic German university city of Tübingen has decided to take the matter in hand and introduce legislation to force investment in solar panels on new housing and commercial buildings
Trying to persuade is a good thing, but sometimes an “extra nudge” in the right direction is needed, says Bernd Schott, head of Tübingen‘s environment and climate protection department. Germany has set itself the goal of installing 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of new solar photovoltaic (PV) each year, but growth in 2017 was just 1.8GW compared with a peak of 7.5GW in 2012. ...
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