From May 1, the purchase of new battery storage for solar PV systems in Germany will be subsidized up to €660/kW ($861) of solar power, according to industry association, BSW-Solar.
PV Magazine reports German state bank KfW will provide the financing, thus initially covering the necessary funds for the support program. Overall, the funding program is expected to run for two years; €25 million should also be made available in 2014.
Plant operators can apply for financial support for photovoltaic projects that are installed in 2013 and have a maximum capacity of 30 kW. The incentives can cover about 30% of the battery costs.
Conditions include the PV power plant the battery system supports must send at least 60% of its power capacity to the grid — a requirement that sticks throughout the course of the power plant’s life. Furthermore, the battery systems granted these incentives must have a guarantee of at least seven years.