Direct marketing of photovoltaic systems in 2026

What costs operators can expect - and how to secure special conditions Stuttgart, 2026 - Direct marketing of photovoltaic electricity is the legal standard for systems above 100 kWp and, for larger systems, there is no economically viable alternative. However, many investors are asking themselves a key question: What are the specific costs associated with direct marketing - and how much do these affect returns? PVMarktplatz, the specialized platform for direct PV investments, provides clarification and shows how bundled structures can secure advantages.

Since the EEG reform, operators of larger photovoltaic systems have been obliged to market their electricity directly on the market. A direct marketer takes over the sale of the electricity generated on the electricity exchange and pays the system operator the market value of solar power plus a market premium. In return, the marketer charges a fee for trading, forecasting, balancing group management, and processing.

The cost structure of direct marketing typically consists of several components. Marketing fees of between approximately 0.2 and 0.6 ct/kWh are common. For a 1 MWp system with an annual yield of around 1,000,000 kWh, this corresponds to annual costs of approximately EUR2,000 to EUR6,000. In addition, there are sometimes fixed service fees of between EUR50 and EUR150 per month, as well as one-time setup costs for the technical connection to the virtual power plant. A remote-controlled system with an appropriate measurement and control concept is required. Depending on the existing system, the technical retrofitting can cost between EUR1,000 and EUR5,000.

Especially with large photovoltaic systems, differences of a few tenths of a cent per kilowatt hour have a noticeable effect on the overall return. Therefore, the choice of direct marketer is not a minor detail, but an economic lever. Established providers in the German market include Interconnector, VERBUND, and BayWa r.e., which offer different contract models, terms, and service modules. In addition to the pure marketing fee, providers differ in particular in terms of forecast quality, redispatch management, contract flexibility, and billing transparency. For investors who invest via PVMarktplatz, direct marketing already plays a central role in the profitability analysis. PVMarktplatz works closely with its service partner SUNLIFE-Service within the group of companies. SUNLIFE takes care of the technical and commercial management and is responsible for the ongoing market connection of the systems. A key advantage comes from the size of the structure managed: SUNLIFE-Service now manages over 400 large-scale photovoltaic systems ranging from 100 kWp to several megawatts. This combined market position has led to framework agreements with several direct marketers. On the one hand, this enables complete transparency in price and contract comparisons and, on the other hand, special conditions that individual investors on the market usually do not receive in this form. Direct marketing can thus be passed on to the investor group with significantly improved purchasing conditions.

Especially for larger systems in the megawatt range, where annual electricity volumes are in the millions of kilowatt hours, optimized marketing costs can quickly add up to five-figure sums per year. Bundling within a professionally managed operator structure thus has a direct impact on increasing returns.

For investors, this means that direct marketing is not a cost risk, but a calculable component of the overall structure--provided it is professionally organized. PVMarktplatz gives investors access to verified photovoltaic projects and existing plants where marketing, operational management, and contract structure are already integrated.

Direct marketing will become a strategic success factor for large photovoltaic systems in 2026. Those who rely on transparent costs, strong service partners, and bundled market power will lay the foundation for stable returns and predictable cash flows. PVMarktplatz offers further information on verified PV direct investments and integrated marketing structures.

SUNLIFE-Sales GmbH
Widmaierstr. 110
Stuttgart 70567
Germany

https://www.pvmarktplatz.de

+49 (0) 711 99599 250
investment@pvmarktplatz.de

PVMarktplatz.de is a digital platform for directly investable photovoltaic systems in Germany. The offering is aimed at investors who want to invest in specific PV projects. PVMarktplatz.de is part of the SUNLIFE Group with locations in Dresden and Stuttgart.

This release was published on openPR.