Solar Subsidies in Europe 2026: Verified Programmes in Four Markets

Four European markets have confirmed rules in October 2026. The Netherlands ends net metering for every owner on 1 January 2027. The UK keeps 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries until 31 March 2027. Germany pays 7.70 to 12.22 ct/kWh up to 10 kW for plants commissioned from 1 August to 31 December 2026. France pays one tariff of 1.1 c€/kWh on new applications from 5 June 2026.

This tracker lists only figures read from the official source named in each row. Other markets link to our country guides, which have not been re-verified here. Always confirm the current rate with the national authority before you quote an incentive.

Last checked: 28 October 2026. The tracker is re-checked when sources change, and each row names its source.

Master Tracker: Verified Markets

Markets not re-verified in this update, with our guides: Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. For Czechia and the wider EU picture, see European solar incentives and European solar tax credits, and the hub page on tax incentives.

Change Log

Germany: EEG Tariffs and 0% VAT

Status: open, with the rates below for plants commissioned from 1 August to 31 December 2026. The Bundesnetzagentur (Germany’s Federal Network Agency) notes that its published rates rest on EEG 2023, which applies to the end of 2026. It also notes that a successor rule is in parliament.

Rates are in euro cents per kWh (ct/kWh). Surplus feed-in means you use some of your power and sell the rest. Full feed-in means you sell all of it.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur, EEG-Förderung und -Fördersätze. The rate depends on the commissioning date and installed power. The Bundesnetzagentur also publishes direct-marketing values (Marktprämie, a market premium for plants that sell their power on the market) for plants up to 1,000 kW, for example 8.10 ct/kWh surplus and 12.62 ct/kWh full feed-in up to 10 kW. For a worked comparison of self-consumption against export, use the generation and financial tool.

Negative Prices

Under § 51 EEG 2023 (current consolidated text; § 100 sets the application rules for older plants), the value on which the payment is based drops to zero when the spot market (wholesale) price is negative. For plants under 100 kW the rule does not apply before the end of the calendar year in which a smart metering system is installed. Plants under 2 kW are exempt until the Bundesnetzagentur makes a specific determination. Source: § 51 EEG 2023. Storage lets a system keep midday power for later hours instead of exporting at a zero-value price. See adding battery storage services.

Zero VAT

§ 12 (3) UStG (the German VAT act) sets VAT at 0% on solar modules supplied to the operator of a PV system. This includes key components and storage, and the installation. It applies where the system is on or near homes or buildings used for public-benefit activities. The requirement is treated as met when the installed gross capacity in the Marktstammdatenregister (the German register of energy plants) is up to 30 kW peak. See also the Germany solar subsidies guide.

France: OA Tariff Reset From June 2026

Status: open, at a much lower tariff. The arrêté (a French ministerial order) of 1 June 2026 amends the S21 tariff decree of 6 October 2021. OA stands for obligation d’achat, a purchase obligation. According to photovoltaique.info’s summary, these terms apply to applications for a complete grid connection filed from 5 June 2026:

• one purchase tariff of 1.1 c€/kWh for plants from 0 to 100 kWc (kilowatts of peak power), indexed by 2% a year for the life of the contract, which means it rises 2% each year (1.12 c€/kWh in year 2, 1.31 in year 10 and 1.60 in year 20)
• investment premiums are abolished
• no quarterly degression (a tariff cut every quarter): the starting tariff is the same whatever the filing date
• electricity above 1,600 kWh per kWc per year is not paid
• full sale for plants up to 9 kWc is not eligible for the purchase tariff

Sources: photovoltaique.info and the Légifrance text of the arrêté. Check on the indexation: 1.1 × 1.02 = 1.122, 1.1 × 1.02^9 = 1.315 and 1.1 × 1.02^19 = 1.602, matching the figures above. Plants whose applications predate 5 June 2026 keep the earlier terms, so confirm the filing date for each project. See France feed-in tariffs.

Netherlands: Net Metering Ends 1 January 2027

Status: ending. The Dutch government states two things. Households and small businesses can net self-generated electricity against consumption until 31 December 2026. Netting means offsetting the power you use against the power you feed in. From 1 January 2027 owners can no longer net it, though they can keep feeding power into the grid. Source: Rijksoverheid (the Dutch government).

Three points from the same page matter for proposals:

• Installing earlier does not extend the scheme. The end date applies to every owner from 1 January 2027, whenever the system was installed. An earlier version of this page said otherwise, and that was wrong.
• Fed-back power is still paid. The energy supplier pays for all electricity fed back, at no less than 50% of the bare supply tariff (the tariff without taxes) until 2030.
• Suppliers may charge feed-in costs. The page says these must be costs the supplier has to pay to process the fed-back power. The ACM (Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets) supervises them.

Self-generated power that you use directly carries no taxes or supplier costs, so self-consumption raises value. For market context, see solar energy in the Netherlands.

United Kingdom: 0% VAT and the Smart Export Guarantee

Status: open. GOV.UK lists installed solar panels and electrical storage batteries in homes at 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 (page last updated 10 July 2026). The Smart Export Guarantee requires some suppliers to pay generators for exported low-carbon electricity. Each licensed supplier sets its own rate, contract length and terms. The rate must always be above zero. Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, notes that installations must be located in Great Britain. Sources: GOV.UK VAT rates and Ofgem. For design context, see battery solar system design in the UK.

Key Dates

The Direction of Travel

In the four markets verified here, support has moved away from export income. The Dutch scheme ends. The French tariff for small plants is low and has no premium. German payments drop to zero in negative-price periods for plants under 100 kW once a smart metering system is installed.

A proposal should value self-consumption first and treat export income as a smaller line. See solar energy policies in Europe and the EU solar rooftop mandate for the wider policy picture, and the feed-in tariff glossary entry for terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which European country has the best solar subsidies?

There is no single answer, because rules differ by system size and by whether you export or self-consume. In the markets verified here, Germany pays 7.70 ct/kWh for surplus feed-in up to 10 kW (12.22 ct/kWh for full feed-in) and sets 0% VAT. France pays one 1.1 c€/kWh tariff on new applications. The UK sets 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. The Netherlands ends net metering on 1 January 2027. Compare the rules for your system size and use case.

Does the Netherlands still have solar net metering in 2026?

Yes, until 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 owners can no longer net generation against consumption, whenever their system was installed. Suppliers then pay for fed-back power, at least 50% of the bare supply tariff until 2030. They may also charge feed-in costs.

How much does Germany pay for solar feed-in in 2026?

For plants up to 10 kW on buildings commissioned from 1 August to 31 December 2026, the Bundesnetzagentur lists 7.70 ct/kWh for surplus feed-in and 12.22 ct/kWh for full feed-in. Up to 40 kW the rates are 6.66 and 10.24 ct/kWh. Up to 100 kW they are 5.44 and 10.24 ct/kWh.

Does Germany pay the feed-in tariff when prices are negative?

Under § 51 EEG 2023, the value drops to zero in periods of negative spot prices. For plants under 100 kW the rule does not apply before the end of the calendar year in which a smart metering system is installed. Plants under 2 kW are exempt until the Bundesnetzagentur makes a determination.

What is the French solar purchase tariff now?

photovoltaique.info reports a single tariff of 1.1 c€/kWh for applications for a complete grid connection filed from 5 June 2026. It covers plants up to 100 kWc and is indexed by 2% a year, with no investment premium. Full sale for plants up to 9 kWc is not eligible for the tariff.

Is there VAT relief on solar in the UK?

Yes. GOV.UK lists solar panels and electrical storage batteries installed in homes at 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. The Smart Export Guarantee is separate. Each licensed supplier sets the export rate, which must be above zero.

Which incentives end soon?

Dutch net metering ends on 1 January 2027, and UK 0% VAT relief runs to 31 March 2027. Germany’s EEG 2023 rates apply to plants commissioned until 31 December 2026. The Bundesnetzagentur says a successor rule is in parliament.