More solar, better insulation: Hanover region relaunches roof solar subsidy program

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More solar, better insulation, more subsidies: The Hanover region continues to promote the expansion of photovoltaics. Since 2020, it has been supporting building owners who renovate their roofs and generate solar power at the same time with its roof solar guideline. New, significantly more attractive subsidy conditions have been in place since the beginning of January 2026. A total of €2.5 million is available this year.

What is new about the roof solar subsidy?

The subsidy has been significantly expanded. For non-residential buildings, the maximum subsidy amount is now up to €200,000, which is four times the previous amount. For residential buildings, the upper limit remains at €50,000. Another key change is that the photovoltaic system itself is now also eligible for funding. Previously, the combination of photovoltaics and roof insulation was a prerequisite, but funding was only available for insulation.

Why is the region focusing on larger PV systems?

Since 2025, it has been a legal requirement that at least 50 percent of the suitable area must be covered with photovoltaics when renovating roofs. The Hanover region wants to deliberately go beyond this minimum requirement. Large-scale systems on schools, commercial, or industrial buildings in particular are a key lever for the energy transition. At the same time, improved roof insulation significantly reduces the energy requirements of the renovated buildings.

How much financial support is available?

Funding is available for the part of the photovoltaic system that exceeds the minimum requirement stipulated by law. The Hanover region provides €150 for each additional square meter of photovoltaic surface area installed. Roof insulation also remains eligible for funding and is subsidized at €50 per square meter. The subsidy for insulation is limited to a maximum of 80 percent of the respective photovoltaic subsidy. "With this combination, we want to specifically motivate people to invest more in climate protection. The larger the subsidized photovoltaic system, the higher the subsidies for roof insulation," explains Margarete Albes, head of the Energy and Climate Department of the Hanover Region.

Who can benefit from the roof solar subsidy?

The subsidy program is open to all property owners in the Hanover region. In addition to companies, associations, homeowners' associations, private individuals, and municipalities can also apply for financial support. Furthermore, the roof solar subsidy can be combined with other subsidy programs.

Where can I find information and support?

To support owners from the initial idea to the application process, the Hanover Region has compiled all the important information on its website. There you will find frequently asked questions, a subsidy calculator for photovoltaics, the necessary application documents, the complete subsidy guidelines, and the telephone number of the advice hotline.

All information can be found here.

What is the Hannover region's assessment so far?

Since the introduction of the roof solar guideline in 2020, more than 1,300 applications have been approved and around 12 million euros in subsidies have been provided for roof insulation. The insulation and photovoltaic measures implemented save around 9,500 tons of CO₂ annually. At the same time, the regional economy also benefits.In 2025 alone, subsidies of around three million euros were approved. The resulting investments in roof renovations and solar systems amounted to around 40 million euros. This mainly benefits craft businesses from the Hanover region.