Probst estimates that the kits make up only about two percent of the almost 100 gigawatts of Germany’s total solar capacity, but he expects that share to grow and thinks the kits could boost solar more broadly.
“There’s an educational effect, it familiarises a larger number of people with solar power and might spur them to invest in more powerful systems,” he said.
“At the beginning it was niche, there was very little demand when we started selling them six years ago,” he said.
Government subsidies
City authorities in Frankfurt gave Christoph Stadelmann, a 60-year-old teacher, half of the 650 euros ($676) he paid for his kit at the beginning of last year.
Stadelmann expects to make his money back within three years.
“Typical roof panels, a more powerful system, start from about 15,000 euros,” said Lang of Sonnenrepublik.
