Germany’s degraded peatlands offer up to 268 GW of solar potential

Since the introduction of the reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) in 2023, photovoltaic installations on re-wetted peatlands have been eligible for support. While the topic attracted significant attention at industry events following the policy change, interest has since waned. A new guidance document aims to renew interest in the sector after the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) identified a technical potential of 134 GW to 268 GW for peatland PV systems across Germany.

According to the study, around 334,500 hectares of peatland could be made available for solar power generation. These areas consist of degraded, drained peatlands previously used for agriculture and not subject to nature conservation restrictions.

The guidance document is intended for agricultural businesses, PV developers, and public authorities. It provides an overview of the current state of technology for peatland PV systems and outlines recommendations for planning, implementation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning. It also examines policy requirements, technical challenges, and the applicable legal framework.

Re-wetting peatlands can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soils that have been drained for agricultural purposes. “Around 70% of all formerly intact peatlands in Germany have currently been drained for agricultural use. They account for just under 7% of Germany’s total greenhouse gas emissions,” said Agnes Katharina Wilke, project manager of the MoorPower research initiative at Fraunhofer ISE.

Germany aims to re-wet 50,000 hectares of degraded peatland annually to meet its climate targets. At the same time, peatland PV could provide an additional source of income for farmers and landowners while reducing competition for land as solar deployment continues to expand.

“It is important to develop only drained and severely degraded areas for the dual use of peatlands and photovoltaics,” said Franziska Tanneberger, head of the Greifswald Mire Centre and a scientist at the University of Greifswald. “Peatlands and peat soils that are valuable from a nature conservation perspective, as well as those located within legally protected areas, should be excluded.”

Even with these restrictions, the potential for peatland PV remains substantial. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania alone, more than 85,000 hectares of degraded peatlands used for agriculture are not subject to restrictive nature conservation regulations. Beyond the North German Plain, carbon-rich peat soils are also widespread in the Alpine foothills.

Peatlands cover around 5% of Germany’s land area. However, because almost all have been drained, many are no longer recognizable as peatlands from the surface.

The guidance document was developed by Fraunhofer ISE in cooperation with the University of Greifswald, Humboldt University of Berlin, law and consultancy firm Becker Büttner Held, and the Institute for Agricultural Law at the University of Göttingen. The project was supported by the “MoorPower” initiative, which is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research.