Germany: Balcony PV & Storage – Insights from the 2025 EnWG Draft

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The Federal Cabinet has approved the draft amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG). The reform lays the foundation for a smarter, more flexible, and more localized energy system. For companies and households that rely on balcony power plants and home storage systems, the draft provides greater clarity on key technical and regulatory issues.

1️⃣ Core elements of the 2025 EnWG amendment

• Standardization of smart meters and control boxes
  
  

• More precise definitions for small PV systems
  
  

• Introduction of energy sharing models for multi-user projects
  
  

• More grid flexibility and bidirectional electricity use
  
  

These measures strengthen the energy architecture in the long term and provide additional security for the balcony PV segment.

2️⃣ Do balcony power plants now have to use smart meters or control boxes?

No.

The requirement only applies to systems over 7 kW . Even balcony power plants combined with storage remain well below the threshold.

For households , this means no new costs and no mandatory retrofitting.

3️⃣ Do existing systems need to be upgraded or re-registered?

No.

Already installed and reported systems remain compliant. Products within the ≤800 VA AC limit retain unrestricted market access.

4️⃣ Will Plug & Play remain permitted?

Yes.

Plug & play remains one of the core advantages of balcony power plants. The draft EnWG confirms that systems up to 2 kW DC / 800 VA AC are not considered electrical installations that must be performed by an electrician – as long as they comply with VDE standards. This ensures easy accessibility for everyone.

5️⃣ Are there any changes to the power limits (800 VA / 2 kW)?

No changes.

The known performance limits remain in place, with a clear distinction between DIY-friendly plug-in solar systems and larger systems with mandatory installation.

6️⃣ What does energy sharing mean?

Largely irrelevant for individual users of balcony power plants.

Energy Sharing is aimed at multi-user setups, such as:

• Multi-family houses
  
  

• Neighborhood or district cooperatives
  
  

• Community rooftop or open-space systems
  
  

From June 2026, network operators must provide technical support for such models.

7️⃣ What does this mean for manufacturers?

The draft sends clear signals:

• Plug & Play remains – the performance limits remain unchanged
  
  

• Storage integration remains flexible , without mandatory smart meter connection
  
  

• Energy sharing opens up B2B opportunities for new multi-user solutions
  
  

• Certifications (CE, VDE) remain the decisive entry ticket, especially for measurement and control technology and security solutions
  
  

For international manufacturers, the amendment is a positive signal : It confirms the market legitimacy of balcony power plants and strengthens their long-term role in the energy transition.

Conclusion

The German balcony PV market is small but clearly regulated. The 2025 Energy Industry Act draft does not create additional hurdles for plug-and-play PV and storage systems. On the contrary, it strengthens legal certainty and long-term prospects for manufacturers and suppliers.

Manufacturers should closely monitor the legislative process, prepare for energy-sharing models, and specifically optimize their products for the combination of plug & play and storage.

This analysis provides valuable insights into market developments.

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