Performance of roof-top PV systems in Germany from 2012 to 2018

The photovoltaic (PV) sector is a central pillar for the global energy transition process which aims to reach the climate change mitigation goals. Roof-mounted systems in particular can make a significant contribution to greenhouse gas-free energy generation. By the end of 2018, more than 1.5 million rooftop systems have been installed in Germany. The yield data measured by monitoring systems and provided by web-based online systems from 2012 to 2018, as well as the configuration information of 23,944 PV systems, are evaluated in this publication. Long-term indicators are derived from the spatial and temporal distribution of the yield data. The yield analysis shows a typical south-north gradient in Germany. 2018 was the year with the highest yield, 2013 the year with the lowest. The annual specific yield varies between 816 kWh/kW(p) in 2017 at the Baltic Sea and 1049 kWh/kW(p) in 2018 in Bavaria. If analysis of data evaluation is narrowed to one to two years, a deviation of five percent and more from the long-term yield can be observed. In order to obtain detailed information on the quality of PV systems, at least five years of data are required. The yield data evaluation can be used by PV system operators and owners to identify an undersupply of their PV system and to initiate countermeasures.