The interest in the state subsidy program for "balcony power plants" seems to be great. The state government wants to promote the acceptance and use of solar power. The taxpayers' association sees this as merely a PR coup by the red-red coalition.
Schwerin (dpa/mv) - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania supports the purchase and installation of small solar systems that do not require approval with up to 500 euros. As Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) announced on Monday in Schwerin, tenants and homeowners can apply for grants from the state development institute from Tuesday. To do this, proof of purchase, installer invoice and a photo of the finished "balcony power plant" would have to be submitted.
With prices of around 1,000 euros for a plug-in photovoltaic system, the state will cover around half of the costs. The minister emphasized that retrospective funding for systems that have already been purchased or installed is not possible. The total funding amounts to 10 million euros. After deducting administration and processing costs, around 18,000 households in the country could benefit. "The funding process is simple and quick. The first-come-first-served principle applies," said Backhaus, who says there have already been many inquiries about the funding program.
According to him, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the first and so far the only federal state to provide financial support for the installation of such "balcony power plants". Tenants in particular are given the opportunity, in consultation with the homeowners, to do something for their own power supply, to reduce electricity costs and to protect the climate. According to Backhaus, with the help of the subsidized systems with an output of up to 600 watts, electricity costs of around 140 euros per household can be saved annually. In addition, the emission of a total of around 2500 tons of CO2 will be avoided.
Backhaus defended the funding program against criticism from individual eco-energy associations and the taxpayers' association. "These small systems are not a panacea, but an important part of an overall strategy," he emphasized. This is designed to protect the climate, reduce dependence on imports of fossil fuels and curb our own energy costs. "Small investments quickly lead to success. I expect that there will be imitation effects even after the end of the subsidy and that some facilities will also be expanded," said the minister.
The taxpayers' association, which included the support program in its "black book" for wasted tax money, renewed its criticism on Monday. "In this situation, it is absurd to distribute tax money with the watering can in this way. It neither makes sense in terms of energy policy, nor does the support for balcony power plants lead to a short-term reduction in energy costs for private individuals," complained the Deputy State Chairwoman Diana Behr.
