Buying a Post-EEG Solar Power System: Is the Secondary Market Worth It for Investors in 2026?
PV systems that have exhausted their feed-in tariff support are becoming a secondary market of their own. How a post-EEG system is valued based on the income value of its remaining operational life—and why the 2027 EEG reform affects only new systems, while existing systems retain their grandfathering status.
Key Points at a Glance
Buying a post-EEG PV system means taking over a solar system that is no longer eligible for subsidies after the 20-year EEG feed-in tariff period has expired. Its value is not determined by a fixed price per kilowatt, but rather by the income value over its remaining term. Because the 2027 EEG reform applies only to new systems and existing systems retain their grandfathering status, a secondary market is emerging that is becoming increasingly predictable. For most investors, a new system remains the more economical option; a post-EEG system is suitable only for carefully calculated special cases.
Anyone looking to purchase a post-EEG PV system in 2026 is entering a young but growing market. This refers to photovoltaic systems whose legally guaranteed feed-in tariff under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) has already expired—the so-called “post-EEG” or “Ü20” systems. These systems continue to produce solar power and feed it into the public grid; but the high fixed feed-in tariff no longer applies once EEG subsidies end. This article is aimed at investors and businesses looking to evaluate this secondary market: How many systems are entering the market, how is a system that has outgrown its subsidies valued, what revenue models and options remain—and why the 2027 EEG reform will actually stabilize the situation for existing systems.
What is the post-EEG secondary market?
Three terms define this field. A plant that has completed its subsidy period (Ü20 plant) has reached the end of its 20 EEG calendar years plus the year of commissioning; the guaranteed fixed rate no longer applies. The secondary market is the trading venue for plants already in operation—as opposed to the primary market for new plants. And the income value is the present value of future revenues minus costs over the remaining useful life. It is precisely this income value—not a flat rate per kilowatt—that determines the fair purchase price.
Distinction: A post-EEG facility is not the same as an existing facility with residual EEG support
The post-EEG market pertains to systems without remaining fixed feed-in tariffs. This should be distinguished from the purchase of an existing system with a remaining EEG term—for example, systems built between 2010 and 2014 with four to nine years of remaining subsidies. Anyone wavering between these two options and building a new system can find detailed guidance on the purchase decision in the article “Buying an Existing Photovoltaic System—or Is It Better to Build a New One?” In the post-EEG scenario, the value lies solely in the physical asset and future market revenue from electricity sales, and no longer in a high legacy feed-in tariff.
How Large Is the Post-EEG Market? The Phase-Out Wave, 2026–2032
The EEG guarantees feed-in tariffs for 20 calendar years plus the year of commissioning. As a result, the first major waves of installations from the solar boom are reaching the end of their subsidy periods one after another. Starting in 2029/2030, the market will shift from small rooftop systems to commercial ground-mounted systems—the segment that is more economically significant for investors.
| Year of discontinuation | Year of commissioning | Volume (approx.) | Dominant segment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2005 | ~921 MW | Roof-mounted 10–30 kWp |
| 2027 | 2006 | ~840 MW | Roof-mounted + first open-space installation |
| 2028 | 2007 | ~1,245 MW | Commercial rooftop installations on the rise |
| 2029 | 2008 | ~1,969 MW | Roof-mounted + ground-mounted |
| 2030 | 2009 | ~4,425 MW | First wave of GW commercial facilities |
| 2031 | 2010 | ~7,542 MW | Open Space + Large-Scale Commercial |
| 2032 | 2011 | ~7,946 MW | Open Space + Large-Scale Commercial |
| Source: Fraunhofer ISE, MaStR analysis. Expiration year = year of commissioning + 20 years + year of funding. As of July 2026. | |||
What is a post-EEG facility worth? Capital value for the remaining term
The Annual Market Value of Solar as the Basis for the Feed-in Tariff
Revenue depends on the market price of electricity. Plant operators who make no changes will receive the statutory feed-in tariff from the grid operator: the annual market value of solar minus a flat-rate marketing fee. The annual market value for solar stood at 4.508 ct/kWh in 2025 (2024: 4.624 ct/kWh). Monthly values fluctuated considerably—ranging from about 1.843 ct/kWh in June to 11.511 ct/kWh in January 2025. After deducting the marketing fee (0.72 ct/kWh for 2025, reduced to 0.23 ct/kWh for 2026; halved with a smart metering system), systems that had reached the end of their subsidy period received approximately 3.793 ct/kWh in 2025. This provision is guaranteed through Solar Package I until the end of 2032.
| Evaluation criterion | Value 2025 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Market Value of Solar | 4.508 ct/kWh | 2024: 4.624 ct/kWh |
| Monthly Market Value of Solar (Range) | 1.843–11.511 ct/kWh | From the June low to the January high of 2025 |
| Marketing Fee | 0.72 ct (2025) / 0.23 ct (2026) | Cut in half with a smart meter |
| Net Connection Fee Ü20 | ~3.793 ct/kWh | Market value minus a flat fee |
| Source: DGS / netztransparenz.de (TSO Market Value Overview), as of January 2026. | ||
Why a fixed price per kilowatt doesn't work
Two systems with the same rated output can have very different yield values: location and specific yield, the remaining useful life of the modules, upcoming inverter replacements, the remaining term of the lease or roof lease, and the chosen revenue model all significantly affect the result. A reasonable purchase price is therefore derived from a yield calculation based on documented assumptions—not from a flat rate per kilowatt.
2027 EEG Reform: Why Grandfathering Provisions Support the Secondary Market
The government draft, which the Federal Cabinet approved on July 29, 2026, calls for replacing the fixed feed-in tariff for new small-scale installations with market-oriented models, such as bilateral contracts for difference, effective January 1, 2027. Another driving factor is the expiration of the EU state aid approval for the current subsidy system at the end of 2026. For installations already connected to the grid, the guaranteed period remains unchanged.
Status of the Process: The 2027 EEG Amendment passed the Federal Cabinet on July 29, 2026, as a government bill. It has not yet been enacted: The Bundestag will begin deliberations in September 2026, followed by the Bundesrat. Because the EU state aid approval for the current subsidy system expires on December 31, 2026, the process is under time pressure; individual measures may still be delayed during the parliamentary process. The status of the proceedings must be reviewed again before a decision is made. This article explains how the transition to difference contracts will affect new installations and outlines the CfD requirement for PV investors starting in 2027.
What revenue models are available for a purchased post-EEG power plant?
| Revenue Model | Short Logic | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Fee (Full Feed-in) | Annual market value of solar minus flat rate, automatic | ~3–8 ct/kWh, depending on the market |
| Self-consumption / On-site delivery | Avoiding grid consumption instead of feeding power into the grid | Commercial electricity ~26.2 ct (20–500 MWh/year), industrial ~16.7 ct/kWh avoided |
| Other Direct Sales | free market price plus certificates of origin | Generate ~5 ct/kWh during PV hours |
| Repowering | Replace an old system, new 20-year EEG | 12.22 ct Full / 7.70 ct Surplus (≤10 kWp) |
| Sources: EEG 2023 (BNetzA rates valid Aug. 1, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027); Grid Transparency market values; Electricity prices excluding VAT according to Destatis/Eurostat, second half of 2025 (consumption group 20–500 MWh/year) and BDEW electricity price analysis 04/2026 (new contracts 160,000 kWh–20 million kWh, medium voltage). As of August 2026. | ||
The standard feed-in tariff is the base scenario: The grid operator purchases the generated electricity but pays only a few cents per kilowatt-hour. For systems 100 kWp or larger, direct marketing is mandatory anyway—in which case the solar power is fed into the market via a marketing partner, including certificates of origin that can be sold separately. The article “Direct Marketing of PV Electricity” provides a more in-depth look at the mechanics of market value and direct marketing.
Conversion to Self-Consumption and Electricity Storage
From an economic standpoint, the situation improves when there is a customer with a suitable load profile: Every kilowatt-hour used for personal consumption saves on the significantly higher cost of grid electricity, rather than merely generating the low feed-in revenue. The transition from full grid supply to self-supply requires an adjustment to the meter cabinet (bidirectional meter) and registration in the market master data registry. An energy storage system further increases the self-consumption rate. Repowering involves replacing the old system with a new, more powerful one that generates up to twice as much electricity on the same area and initiates a new 20-year EEG feed-in tariff period. The guide “PV System After 20 Years—What Now?” provides a complete overview of options from the owner’s perspective—including a system check and decommissioning.
Buy a post-EEG project, an existing project with remaining EEG credits, or a new project?
| Criterion | Post-EEG Facility | Inventory with Remaining EEG | New Investment 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding Status | subsidized, only market electricity | 4–9 years remaining EEG | 20 years + year of commissioning |
| Revenue Security | based on market price | Residual fixed rate plus market rate | Full fixed compensation / market premium |
| Technology | 20+ years; replacement expected | 10–15 years old | Like new, long warranty |
| Tax Leverage (IAB/AfA) | barely effective | limited | full – 27.5% in the year of investment, up to 77.5% cumulatively over two years |
| Fits | Special Cases in Portfolio and Repowering | Selected acquisitions | Standard Investment |
| Have a tax advisor review the tax implications in your specific case. As of July 2026. | |||
A post-EEG facility can be a sensible option as an operational addition to an existing portfolio, as a repowering project where land and grid connection are the main assets, or when the price is significantly below the fair income value. For wealth accumulation with €100,000 in equity or more, however, a new installation is the more predictable path—with a full term and full tax leverage. The overview “Photovoltaics as an Investment” provides the framework for this.
Risks and Due Diligence in a Purchase
Technical Risks
On the technical side, the typical aging-related issues include: inverters with a service life of 10 to 15 years that are due for replacement; cumulative module degradation; and defect classes specific to older generations, such as potential-induced degradation (PID). Depending on the module generation and condition, older systems often yield only about 80 to 90 percent of their original output—a figure that must be factored into the yield calculation.
Legal and Commercial Risks
From a legal and commercial perspective, key factors include the remaining term of lease and rooftop usage agreements, obligations regarding dismantling and guarantees, the documentation status based on the previous approval status, and the creditworthiness of the land or rooftop owners. Unlike with a new installation, the tax incentives provided by the investment tax credit and special depreciation have little impact because the tax base is low.
The Importance of Due Diligence
A system inspection by a specialized company is mandatory before any purchase. The inspection assesses the system’s safety, performance, and remaining useful life, thereby providing the reliable data necessary to determine a fair purchase price.
Post-EEG or new installation—we'll run the numbers for your specific setup
Logic Energy designs, builds, and operates PV systems for investors with at least €100,000 in equity. The contractual partner for direct PV investments is mediplan Helm e.K., which is subject to personal liability of its owners pursuant to Sections 1, 17, and 19 of the German Commercial Code (HGB). During a no-obligation consultation, we will compare the remaining term, revenue model, and tax leverage for your project.
Conclusion
The post-EEG secondary market will be supplied with a steady stream of offerings through the wave of expiring subsidies until 2032 and will be legally stabilized by the grandfathering provisions of the 2027 EEG reform. As photovoltaic capacity continues to expand, this market will grow structurally—the systems will remain part of the energy supply even after subsidies end. A sober assessment remains crucial: The price of a system that has outlived its subsidy period is its income value over its remaining operational life, not a flat rate per kilowatt. For most investors with a long-term horizon, building a new system remains the more economical option; a post-EEG system is suitable only for specific, carefully calculated special cases.
FAQ
What does “buy a post-EEG system” mean?
It means taking over a photovoltaic system whose 20-year EEG subsidy has expired. The buyer acquires the system—which continues to generate electricity—along with its remaining useful life and market revenue from electricity sales, but without the original high fixed feed-in tariff, which ceases when the subsidy ends.
What is the value of a facility that is no longer receiving subsidies?
Its value is the income value of the remaining term: the present value of expected revenues minus operating, replacement, and decommissioning costs. A fixed price per kilowatt is not a reliable benchmark, as location, remaining useful life, technical condition, and revenue model significantly affect the value.
How much is the payment after the EEG subsidy period ends?
Systems that have reached the end of their subsidy period receive the connection payment: the annual market value for solar minus a flat-rate marketing fee. In 2025, this amounted to approximately 3.793 ct/kWh (annual market value of 4.508 ct minus 0.72 ct). As things stand, this regulation applies through the end of 2032 (Solar Package I).
Will the 2027 EEG reform affect existing plants purchased in 2027?
According to the government’s draft bill, the reform applies only to new installations; existing installations retain their grandfathering status and the guaranteed framework until the end of the subsidy period. As of August 2026, the reform has not yet been enacted—the status of the legislative process should be reviewed before making a decision.
Is a post-EEG system a better investment than a new system?
For most investors with a long-term horizon, a new installation is the better option: a full 20-year term, greater revenue security, and full tax leverage. A post-EEG installation is worthwhile in specific cases—as a portfolio complement, a repowering project, or when the price is significantly below the income value. Return figures are not a guarantee of future results.
References
- DGS – Annual Market Value for Solar 2025 – Annual market value: 4.508 ct/kWh, Ü20 feed-in tariff: 3.793 ct/kWh, as of January 15, 2026
- Grid Transparency (TSO) – Market Value Overview – Official Monthly and Annual Market Values for Solar
- Consumer Advice Center – What to Do About the Ü20 System? – Connection Fee, Marketing Fee, Valid Through 2032, as of March 27, 2026
- Fraunhofer ISE – Current Facts About Photovoltaics in Germany – Phase-Out, Module Lifespan, Degradation
- Laws on the Internet – Section 23b of the EEG 2023 – Grid Connection Fee for Facilities That Have Reached the End of Their Subsidy Period
- Rödl & Partner – EEG 2027: BMWE Draft Bill – Reform Affects New Installations; Cabinet Decision July 29, 2026; Parliamentary Process Underway
- Taylor Wessing – EEG 2027: An Overview of the Proposed Amendment – Analysis of Grandfathering Provisions and the Transition to CfDs
