• Expansion rate of photovoltaic systems is increasing in Aachen: Output and number have increased fivefold since 2020
• The urban target value of 14,000 kilowatt peak (kWp) was already reached in 2024 and around 32,000 households, around 20 percent, are supplied with solar energy.
• The previous funding of four million euros, which was increased in 2026, has triggered investments of more than 46 million euros.

The use of solar energy is an important and economically highly interesting lever on the way to a climate-neutral and future-proof energy supply. In Aachen, the expansion of photovoltaic systems (PV systems) has accelerated considerably in recent years. More and more Aachen residents and companies are deciding to build a solar power system, often supplemented by the purchase of an appropriate electricity storage system, electric vehicles or in conjunction with the installation of a heat pump. PV systems thus make an important contribution to climate protection, but also to energy security, independence from fossil fuels and the creation of local jobs.

Climate protection concept target already exceeded
The last five years clearly show how much the pace of new installations has increased: While 299 PV systems with an output of around 3,860 kWp were newly installed in 2020, by 2025 there were already 1,575 new systems with around 19,099 kWp. Both the output and the number of new systems per year have thus increased almost fivefold. The strong increase shows that PV systems are profitable, the energy transition in Aachen is making progress and the target value (14.5 MW) anchored in the climate protection concept (IKSK) has already been exceeded since 2024.

In total, the photovoltaic systems in Aachen now have an installed capacity of almost 90,000 kWp. These generate around 80 million kilowatt hours of electricity every year. This is enough to supply around 32,000 households per year. The city's previous funding of four million euros has supported investments of more than 46 million euros since 2022. However, there is still a lot of untapped potential on Aachen's rooftops.

The current municipal subsidy
With the new edition of the municipal solar subsidy in place since October 2025, the City of Aachen is now supporting the use of solar energy specifically in apartment buildings and commercial properties owned by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the adoption of the 2026 municipal budget, the funds have now been increased by a further 300,000 euros to a total of 500,000 euros.

In the area of apartment buildings, PV systems and electricity storage systems are subsidized if there is a shared building supply or a tenant electricity project. This focus has been well received: 23 systems with a total of 655 kWp have already been approved since the new solar subsidy was introduced. Tenant electricity models can help to significantly reduce electricity procurement costs and enable direct participation in the energy transition.

More details on the conditions of the solar subsidy: www.aachen.de/solar

Further information on the city's climate protection target and strategy: www.aachen.de/iksk

Contact us

Department of Climate and Environment
Mail: klimaschutz@mail.aachen.de
Tel.: 0241 432-36880