Winning bids in the first of three tenders this year on average will receive €0.0741 ($0.0844) per kilowatt hour of electricity produced, less than the €0.08/kWh winners from a third PV auction last year are entitled to.

"Many bidders have used the possibility to make bids for projects on agricultural areas in disadvantaged regions," BNetzA president Jochen Homann said. "That has led to another lowering of the price level."