Home ownership | Domestic energy transition without party boundaries

Anyone who travels through Germany with their eyes open, especially in the east, has long sensed the truth. Especially in rural areas, so many photovoltaic systems adorn the roofs of private homes that this equipment can't possibly be dependent on party political preferences. Indeed, the recent election manifestos of parties otherwise opposed to the energy transition, such as the AfD or the BSW, don't contain any harsh words against solar rooftop systems. Critical comments can only be read about ground-mounted systems and agro-photovoltaics.

Generating your own electricity from your own roof is enjoying widespread popularity, as confirmed by a survey published Tuesday by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research on behalf of the Climate-Neutral Germany initiative. Last August, more than 2,000 owner-occupied homeowners were surveyed representatively. Well over a third have already purchased a solar power system. More than a quarter plan to do so within the next five years, the survey further revealed.

According to the survey, this nationwide average corresponds fairly well with those of voters for individual parties. For example, 65 percent of homeowners who vote for the CDU/CSU have photovoltaics or plan to purchase one. Among homeowners who vote for the SPD or FDP, the figure is 63 percent each, and among those who vote for the Left Party, 67 percent. In comparison, homeowners who vote for the AfD or the BSW lag only slightly behind, with a pro-photovoltaic share of 59 percent and 52 percent, respectively. As expected, Green voters lead the way with 77 percent.

Allensbach project leader Steffen de Sombre also finds it remarkable that usage and purchase plans have little correlation with political convictions. This applies not only to solar systems ; almost one in three AfD-leaning respondents also owns an electric car or plans to purchase one. The majority of these people, too, are in favor of climate-friendly technologies.

However, climate protection is not always at the forefront of homeowners' motivations, regardless of party preference, the pollster emphasizes. Financial reasons are more often cited for purchasing a heat pump, such as reducing heating costs, increasing property value, or the long-term profitability of investing in this modern heating system.

According to de Sombre, this shift—away from "ideological" and toward financial and practical considerations—also affects the purchase of an electric car. More important, he says, is that taxes and insurance are cheaper, the range has increased, and the charging infrastructure has improved.

The Allensbach survey also confirms another trend that has been observed for some time: Homeowners see their own solar power as a kind of starting point – photovoltaic systems are the "engine of innovation in the home," as the survey describes it. The presence of a PV system increases the willingness to purchase a battery storage system from 4 to 80 percent of surveyed households. The willingness to purchase a heat pump, a digital electricity meter, a wall box, or an electric car also increases on average threefold if they have their own photovoltaic system or are planning to purchase one.

Without private photovoltaic systems , Germany will not be able to achieve its climate goals, concludes Carolin Friedemann, founder of the Climate Neutral Germany initiative. Homeowners therefore need clarity from the government about which investment decisions are worthwhile.

Because one investment in photovoltaics leads to further investments, the German Homeowners Association (VW) is calling for the feed-in tariff for solar power to be maintained in response to the Allensbach survey and rejects the planned abolition by Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU). Or, as Federal Managing Director Verena Örenbas puts it: If you make it easier for people to do something, the chances of them doing it are also greater.