Climate protection manager Julia Besand points this out. The funding, which is financed by the Rhineland-Palatinate's municipal investment program 'Climate Protection and Innovation (KIPKI)', supports private households in the purchase of so-called balcony power plants.
Having your own plug-in balcony photovoltaic system is not just a small contribution to climate protection. The self-generated solar power can also be used for refrigerators, freezers and other appliances that run continuously, thus also offering financial benefits. This is why sales of balcony power plants are booming; according to the Federal Network Agency, the number at the end of May 2025 was just under 975,000. It is expected that the million mark will be exceeded this year. The purchase of such a system is particularly worthwhile if there is a subsidy available. This is where the 'Plug-in balcony PV systems' funding program comes in, with which the city of Idar-Oberstein supports private households in the purchase of balcony power plants. The aim of the funding is to further expand the use of renewable energy in the city, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate protection.
"A total of 60,050 euros is available for the funding program from the KIPKI funds," explains climate protection manager Julia Besand. A one-off flat-rate grant can be awarded per household. This amounts to 75 euros for a device with one solar module and 150 euros for a device with two solar modules. "Most systems are purchased with two modules, so we can award around 400 grants." So far, almost 270 applications have been submitted, committing around 40,000 euros in funding. Several more systems can still be funded by the end of September. However, it should be noted that the application must first be submitted and the funding decision issued before the devices can be purchased.
- All information and forms relating to the funding program can be found on the city's website at www.idar-oberstein.de/klimaschutz.