Germany has set itself the goal of being greenhouse gas neutral by 2045. The power sector has a key role to play in this. To achieve the goal of greenhouse gas neutrality in 2045, the power sector will have to largely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. Green energy is becoming a growing driver of decarbonization in the buildings, industry and transport sectors.
At the end of 2022, Germany had a total of nearly 150 GW of renewable power generation capacity installed. Die Photovoltaik hatte einen Anteil von etwa 67 GW, was einem Anteil von etwa 45 Prozent entspricht.
PHOTOVOLTAICS ON BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURAL INSTALLATIONS WITH COMBUSTIBLE BUILDING MATERIALS
An important topic we would like to bring to your attention is the installation of photovoltaics on buildings and structural systems with combustible building materials and the importance of adequate insurance coverage.
With the increasing interest in renewable energy, PV systems are being installed more and more frequently on different types of buildings, including those with combustible materials.
From an insurance perspective, photovoltaic systems represent an increase in risk, which is why the insurance industry has published its own specifications, information or guidelines that must be taken into account during installation.
Currently, a major problem is that PV systems already planned or under construction do not comply with the insurers’ specifications. Customers are made familiar with promises of a high performance level of their PV system, but at the same time the requirements for insurability, occupational health and safety or building regulations are not taken into account.
Beispielsweise werden PV-Anlagen auf Dächern mit Bitumenbahnen geplant, welche nicht versicherbar sind. Auch ist der Einbau auf EPS-Dämmstoffen (Styropor) nicht erlaubt.
Die neue VdS-Richtlinie 6023 wird hier einschneidende Veränderungen bringen.
Es existieren zahlreiche Elektrofirmen, welche als Solarfachfirma tätig sind und PV-Anlagen planen, bei denen notwendige Abstände bzw. Freiflächen aufgrund bester Leistungsausnutzung nicht berücksichtigt werden. Leitungsführungen nicht versicherungskonform erfolgen, Sicherheitseinrichtungen wie Lichtbogenerkennung oder Feuerwehrabschaltungen nicht berücksichtigt oder bestehende PV-Anlagen nicht in die notwendige E-Revision einbezogen werden.
Den wenigsten Betreibern ist zudem bekannt, dass ihre PV-Anlage alle vier Jahre durch einen Sachverständigen geprüft werden muss.
In order to obtain insurability, in addition to VdS Guideline 6023, VdS Information 3145 and VdS Guideline 2234 must always be taken into account when planning PV systems.
CONCLUSION AND SOLUTION
We recommend to create a PV system concept including roof layout in advance, which we will check in cooperation with a VdS-approved expert for photovoltaic systems if necessary and coordinate with the insurer through us.
Another part of our service is also the preparation of official and insurance-related fire protection concepts.
If you are interested in this topic, we are happy to offer a webinar – please give us your short feedback!
We will be happy to advise you comprehensively!