Feed-in tariff 2025/2026: amount, profitability, innovations
%25203%2520(1).webp)
Stefano Fonseca is an energy and environment engineer with over six years of experience in technical building equipment (TGA). He combines technical expertise with a passion for understandable communication. For more than five years, he has been writing as a freelance editor about renewable energy and sustainable living, in particular about photovoltaics and heat pumps.
The feed-in tariff remains an important factor for the economic efficiency of photovoltaic systems in 2025 and 2026. Your claim is subject to new rules such as the effective power limit and the ZEREZ obligation. In this article, you will find out what compensation is currently valid, whether it is worthwhile and what changes you need to pay attention to.
What is the feed-in tariff?
The feed-in tariff is a legally defined remuneration for electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics is fed into the public network. It guarantees a fixed payment rate per kilowatt hour fed in over 20 years and is intended to make investments in solar power economically attractive.
How does the feed-in tariff work?
The feed-in tariff works in accordance with the requirements of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). It is paid out for PV systems up to a peak of 100 kilowatts. To do this, operators must have their Photovoltaic system at the grid operator and log in to the market master data register.
The solar power generated is measured and fed directly into the public grid. The network operator pays a fixed amount per kilowatt hour fed in, which is fixed on the day of commissioning and guaranteed for 20 years. The remuneration rates vary depending on the size of the plant and the type of supply (partial or full supply). At the end of the 20 years, the electricity fed in will only be paid at the current market value.
How high will the feed-in tariff be in 2025?
Since August 1, 2025, the feed-in tariff has been 5.56 and 12.47 cents per kilowatt hour, depending on the type of feed-in and system size. PV systems with partial feed-in receive 5.56 and 7.86 cents per kilowatt hour. PV systems with full supply 10.45 to 12.47 cents.
Since February 2024, the feed-in tariff has been reduced by 1% every six months. This half-yearly degression is enshrined in Section 49 of the EEG 2023 and only concerns new plants that have been put into operation. The currently valid compensation rates apply until January 31, 2026.
How high is the feed-in tariff in 2026?
The feed-in tariff will fall by 1% as of February 1, 2026. Depending on the feed-in type and system size, the new remuneration rates are between 5.50 and 12.34 cents per kilowatt hour. PV systems with partial feed-in receive 5.50 to 7.78 cents per kilowatt hour. Full feed-in systems receive 10.35 to 12.34 cents.
As of August 1, 2026, the feed-in tariff will be reduced again by 1%. This regular degression affects all new photovoltaic systems that are put into operation from this deadline. The new compensation rates are then between 5.45 and 12.22 cents per kilowatt hour.
Partial supply vs. full injection — What is more worthwhile?
For single-family homes, partial feed-in makes more sense in most cases, as self-consumption is usually prioritized here. While the feed-in tariff is 5.56 and 12.47 cents per kilowatt hour, you pay around 35 cents per kilowatt hour for household electricity. This means that you save around 30 per kilowatt hour of self-consumption through self-consumption.
The full supply is more suitable for larger photovoltaic systems without self-consumption — for example on commercial roofs or in solar parks. Here, the entire electricity yield is intended to be fed in. The process is more attractive due to the higher remuneration rates.
Sample calculation
She would like to retrofit a PV system. Its annual electricity consumption is around 5,000 kWh per year, meaning that the output of the PV system is around 7 kWp. The investment costs amount to 10,000 euros. This would result in the following calculation:
In the case of this example calculation, you would save around 721.30 euros per year with a partial injection and only 202.10 euros with full injection. The higher self-consumption and lower the feed-in, the higher the savings.
How has the feed-in tariff developed?
It seems hard to imagine today, but the feed-in tariff was still over 50 cents per kilowatt hour when introduced in 2000. More specifically, it was around 50.62 ct/kWh for small PV systems up to 5 kWp, and even rose to 57.4 ct/kWh by 2004. The remuneration was part of the newly created Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and was intended to specifically promote the expansion of renewable energies and make investments economically attractive.
.png)
Over the years, remuneration has been gradually reduced — including as a result of the EEG amendments 2004, 2012, 2021 and 2023. Since February 2024, there has been a half-yearly degression of 1% (Section 49 EEG 2023).
The decline in feed-in tariffs was politically intentional and should keep electricity prices stable. Because with the growing number of PV systems, the conveyor load for all electricity customers would also have increased. At the same time, prices for solar modules fell massively, meaning that photovoltaics now pay off even without high subsidies.
What influences the level of the feed-in tariff?
The amount of the feed-in tariff is determined by several legally and technically defined factors. The timing, size and use of the system are particularly decisive:
- Start-up date: The amount of remuneration is determined on the day of the first supply of electricity. The later the plant is connected to the grid, the lower the remuneration due to degression.
- System size: Compensation decreases as performance increases. There are the highest rates for systems up to 10 kWp, significantly less from 40 kWp.
- Feed-in type: The rates for full supply are higher than for partial supply.
- Compensation model: Investments over 100 kWp must switch to the market premium, which can influence revenues.
- Technical standard and funding requirements: Only those who meet all legal requirements (e.g. registration, metering technology, network compatibility) receive full remuneration.
Overview of relevant new features
Since March 2025, there have been several new legal requirements for photovoltaic systems, which have a direct impact on the feed-in tariff, including:
- Active power limitation: PV systems without Smart meter and control devices have only been allowed to feed in 60% of their output since March 1, 2025.
- Direct marketing obligation: The limit for mandatory direct marketing has been gradually reduced from 100 to 25 kWp since February.
- ZEREZ obligation: Since February 2025, all new PV systems must be entered in the Central Register for Unit and Component Certificates (ZEREZ).
- Negative electricity prices: For PV systems with full feed-in that were put into operation after the end of February 2025, the remuneration for negative stock market electricity prices is waived.
These regulations apply to all new plants and should definitely be taken into account when planning and implementing them. Only those who meet all requirements will receive the legally guaranteed feed-in tariff in full.
How long is the remuneration valid?
The feed-in tariff is valid for 20 years from the date the PV system is put into operation. The date of the first supply of electricity to the grid is decisive. After this period, the statutory claim for remuneration automatically ends, even if the plant continues to produce electricity.
What happens after expiration?
After expiry of the 20-year feed-in tariff, PV systems no longer receive fixed remuneration in accordance with the EEG. Instead, electricity can:
- for Current market value is fed in and sold (usually well below EEG level),
- directly marketed become — e.g. via electricity traders or energy cooperatives,
- or Increasingly self-consumed , for example by combining it with an energy storage device.
After the end of the remuneration, many plant operators opt for self-consumption optimization or electricity cloud models.
The new standard for installers and energy consultants
Are you installing heating systems, PV systems, battery storage systems or wallboxes? With autarc, you can carry out acquisition, planning, promotion, maintenance and customer communication in one software. Digitize your processes and make your company fit for the future. Try it now for free for 14 days!