EWS Analysis: August was a month of extremes
The reduction in the feed-in tariff shifted some demand to July, resulting in a noticeable dip in August. Overall, the new installations reflect a month of contrasts – a lull in small-scale plants, a boom in large-scale projects.
Weakest storage expansion since 2022At 284 megawatt hours, storage installations in August reached a new low since October 2022 (231 megawatt hours). Home storage systems up to 30 kilowatt hours recorded their lowest level since December 2022.
The annual total from January to August 2025 also reached 3,472 gigawatt hours, the lowest level since 2022. After stable demand in 2023, the slump seems all the more severe, as it abruptly interrupts the momentum of recent years.
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While the expected late registrations could improve the balance slightly, this will change little in the fundamental picture: there is currently no sign of a trend reversal.
In addition to the usual summer lull, uncertainty regarding the regulatory framework is weighing heavily on the market. "The August storage figures are a clear warning shot," comments EWS founder Kai Lippert. "Especially in the home storage market, there's a lack of momentum. We need contemporary marketing, attractive business models, and clear political signals to get the market moving again."
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Roof systems collapseJust as with home storage systems, the addition of private rooftop systems reached its lowest level of the year so far in August. This demonstrates the slowdown particularly clearly in this segment, where photovoltaics and storage have so far been closely intertwined.
The pull-forward effect of the reduced feed-in tariff in July further intensified the summer break. "The reduction in the feed-in tariff prompted many to bring forward projects, which further weakened demand in August," explains Jan Paul Dahm, EWS Managing Director and son of the company founder. "For small-scale plants, the combination of lower feed-in tariffs and uncertain subsidy policies is particularly problematic – the market urgently needs stimulus!"
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Record expansion of large-scale plantsIn contrast, the expansion of large-scale systems (solar parks with more than one megawatt of capacity) reached a historic high of 1.295 gigawatts in August. The last comparable expansion was in December 2011 (1.216 gigawatts).
For all other system sizes – with the exception of plug-in systems – August was the weakest month since October 2022. "The record numbers in the large-scale system segment demonstrate the potential that exists," commented Jan Paul Dahm. "However, this segment alone will not be sufficient to advance the energy transition at the desired pace."
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He demands: "We must ensure more awareness in the private and commercial sectors through targeted education in politics and society. The returns for plant operators are as good as they have been for a long time." (HS)
You can read the current EWS market report here.
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