Fraunhofer ISE has identified up to 268 GW of solar potential on degraded peatlands in Germany. A new guidance document outlines how peatland PV projects can support emissions reductions while creating new opportunities for landowners and farmers.
Research conducted by Fraunhofer ISE indicates that Germany’s degraded peatlands could accommodate between 134 GW and 268 GW of photovoltaic capacity. To help advance this emerging segment, the institute has released a new guidance document explaining how solar projects on restored peatlands can contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions while also opening up additional revenue opportunities for farmers and landowners.
Photovoltaic systems installed on re-wetted peatlands have been eligible for financial support since amendments to Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) took effect in 2023. Although the regulatory change initially generated considerable interest across industry conferences and events, momentum has gradually declined. The newly published guidance seeks to revive attention by highlighting Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) findings that estimate Germany’s technical peatland PV potential at between 134 GW and 268 GW.
The assessment found that approximately 334,500 hectares of peatland could potentially be utilized for solar electricity production. These sites are made up of degraded and previously drained peatlands that had been used for agricultural activities and are not covered by nature conservation restrictions.
Designed for farmers, agricultural enterprises, photovoltaic developers, and public-sector authorities, the guidance document summarizes the present state of peatland PV technology. It also offers recommendations covering project planning, construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning, while addressing regulatory requirements, legal considerations, and the technical issues associated with this type of solar deployment.
Restoring water levels on drained peatlands has the potential to greatly cut greenhouse gas emissions released from soils that were previously drained for farming. “Around 70% of all formerly intact peatlands in Germany have currently been drained for agricultural use. They account for just under 7% of Germany’s total greenhouse gas emissions,” said Agnes Katharina Wilke, project manager of the MoorPower research initiative at Fraunhofer ISE.
Germany has set a target of re-wetting 50,000 hectares of degraded peatlands each year as part of its climate strategy. At the same time, peatland photovoltaic projects could create an extra income stream for both farmers and landowners while easing competition for available land as the country’s solar sector continues to grow.
“It is important to develop only drained and severely degraded areas for the dual use of peatlands and photovoltaics,” said Franziska Tanneberger, head of the Greifswald Mire Centre and a scientist at the University of Greifswald. “Peatlands and peat soils that are valuable from a nature conservation perspective, as well as those located within legally protected areas, should be excluded.”
Despite those limitations, the available opportunity for peatland PV remains significant. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania by itself, more than 85,000 hectares of degraded agricultural peatlands fall outside restrictive nature conservation regulations. In addition to the North German Plain, peat soils with high carbon content are also commonly found throughout the Alpine foothills.
Peatlands account for roughly 5% of Germany’s total land area. Nevertheless, because nearly all of these landscapes have been drained over time, many can no longer be identified as peatlands based solely on their surface appearance.
Fraunhofer ISE prepared the guidance document in collaboration with the University of Greifswald, Humboldt University of Berlin, the law and consulting firm Becker Büttner Held, and the Institute for Agricultural Law at the University of Göttingen. The work was carried out under the “MoorPower” initiative, which receives funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Originally reported by pv magazine Global on Jul 21, 2026.
