All articles
Seller questions on rooftop PV and batteries before notarisation: ownership, feed‑in/PPA, grant clawback and Grundschuld treatment (Oct 2026 checklist)
A practical checklist for sellers (and their lawyers/notaries) to answer buyers' and lenders' questions about rooftop PV and batteries before notarisation: operator registration, transfer of feed‑in/PPA rights, public‑fund clawback rules, and how banks treat PV when registering a Grundschuld.
Short answer — what sellers must check before notarisation
Before the notarisation you should be able to show: who is the registered operator in the Market Master Data Register (Marktstammdatenregister), whether an existing feed‑in or PPA contract is transferable (and what steps the network operator requires for an operator change), whether any public funding (BEG/BAFA/KfW or municipal grants) carries a time‑limited use obligation or explicit repayment trigger on sale, and whether the PV or battery is treated as part of the real estate (a 'bestandteil') or as a removable asset — because that affects whether a bank’s Grundschuld automatically covers it. ([clearingstelle-eeg-kwkg.de](https://www.clearingstelle-eeg-kwkg.de/haeufige-rechtsfrage/31?utm_source=openai))
Who owns the installation and what the Market Master Data Register shows
The EEG regime ties financial entitlements to the registered 'Anlagenbetreiber' in the Marktstammdatenregister; a change of operator must be reported and documented to the network operator and the market register. Whether payments (feed‑in tariffs, market premium etc.) keep paying to the old account depends on that formal operator change and any contract with the network or direct‑marketing partner. The Clearingstelle for EEG/KWKG summarises that operator change and contract transfer depend on contractual wording and the timely notification obligations under the EEG. For rooftop systems sellers must therefore present evidence of a completed operator change or a transfer agreement. ([clearingstelle-eeg-kwkg.de](https://www.clearingstelle-eeg-kwkg.de/haeufige-rechtsfrage/31?utm_source=openai))
Feed‑in contracts, PPAs and the network operator’s role
If the roof system is linked to a feed‑in contract or a PPA, check three things in writing: (1) does the contract include a contractual prohibition or a consent requirement for assignment; (2) does the network operator require a specific 'Übertragungsanzeige' or forms for operator change (many distribution network operators publish a 'Betreiberwechsel' form); and (3) is there any direct‑marketing mandate (market premium) that must be re‑contracted. Practical step: obtain the network operator’s operator‑change checklist and a copy of the current PPA or Einspeisevertrag; if the contract is silent the Clearingstelle notes that transferability is judged by the contract and statutory notification rules. ([enwg-weimar.de](https://enwg-weimar.de/einspeisung/aenderungsmeldung/?utm_source=openai))
Public funding — disclosure and clawback risk
Many federal and state grants (BEG/BAFA, some KfW instruments, regional programmes) attach conditions. The BAFA and BEG guidance state that a veräußerung (sale) or decommissioning of a funded investment must be reported and may trigger a full or partial Rückforderung of the grant; for BEG the seller must inform the buyer about ten‑year usage obligations where they apply. Some KfW rules require prompt partial repayment when certain combined products are used (for example a three‑month repayment obligation after a bridging disbursement in selected KfW products). Do not assume a grant 'stays with the roof' — read the original Zuwendungsbescheid and obtain the authority’s statement about transferability. If you relied on a grant to market the property, disclose it in writing before notarisation. ([bafa.de](https://www.bafa.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Energie/eew_merkblatt_2023.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=10&utm_source=openai))
How lenders treat PV and batteries when registering a Grundschuld
Banks secure loans principally with the Grundschuld on the real estate. Whether rooftop PV and a battery fall automatically within that security depends on whether they are (a) 'wesentlicher Bestandteil' of the building or (b) only a 'Scheinbestandteil' or movable accessory. The Bundesgerichtshof has repeatedly held the classification depends on the circumstances of attachment and the intent when installed; courts have found both outcomes. If modules were installed under a time‑limited lease or usufruct, they may be a Scheinbestandteil and not automatically covered by the land charge. For you as seller: obtain the installation contract, any lease/installation agreement, and a legal opinion on whether the modules were delivered as accessory or intended as permanent part — the lender will usually require either (i) an express security clause for the plant, (ii) assignment of feed‑in receivables, or (iii) contractual subordination/standstill from third‑party owners. Expect lenders to request documented title to the modules or a clause that they are part of the mortgaged property. ([juris.bundesgerichtshof.de](https://juris.bundesgerichtshof.de/cgi-bin/rechtsprechung/document.py?Art=pm&Blank=1&Datum=2021-6&Gericht=bgh&file=dokument.pdf&linked=urt&nr=124741&utm_source=openai))
Practical checklist for the notarisation meeting
Before signing, gather: (1) Marketstammdatenregister extract showing current Anlagenbetreiber; (2) copies of Einspeisevertrag/PPA and any consent/assignment clauses; (3) the network operator’s operator‑change form or confirmation; (4) the original Zuwendungsbescheide and the authority’s statement on transferability; (5) installation and maintenance contracts showing whether system was intended as permanent; (6) lender pre‑approval or their required security wording for the Grundschuld (or confirmation that the bank accepts the plant as part of the mortgaged property); (7) a short cover letter for the notary summarising the above and identifying any risks for the buyer (grant clawback, non‑transferable PPA, or disputed ownership). Do not rely on verbal assurances; ask the notary to record key facts and to require documentary evidence before the notarisation. ([clearingstelle-eeg-kwkg.de](https://www.clearingstelle-eeg-kwkg.de/haeufige-rechtsfrage/31?utm_source=openai))
Nothing on this page is investment, tax or legal advice. Price bands are indicative asking prices and disagree between sources by design. Verify every figure with a qualified German notary, tax adviser (Steuerberater) or lawyer before committing capital.
