The energy transition is progressing. More and more people are interested in renewable energies within their own four walls. Solar systems are very popular. In the last two years alone, thousands of photovoltaic systems have been installed on private roofs or properties. But what to do if there is simply not enough space for the solar system? This is where the so-called balcony power plant comes into play.
In Germany, around 10 million households are said to be suitable for installing a mini solar system. According to experts, more than 500,000 systems will be connected to the grid in 2023 alone.
The balcony power plant: electricity from your own terrace
With its own balcony power plant (also Plug solar system or Mini PV called) is relatively easy to produce electricity for the household without much installation effort. The energy of the sun is simply used to help. Unlike traditional solar systems on the roof, balcony power plants are much more compact and can therefore be installed directly on the balcony, terrace or facade. Balcony power plants are therefore also ideal for rented apartments. For those who live on higher floors, there are also plug-in solar systems with ultra-light solar modules that can be easily attached to the balcony with cable ties.
The idea behind the balcony power plant is simple: solar modules are attached to a small device on the balcony, in the garden, on the roof or on the facade and convert solar energy into environmentally friendly solar power. As a rule, balcony power plants function in the same way as conventional photovoltaic systems. The solar modules made of silicon cells absorb the sunlight and generate direct current. An inverter then converts the direct current into usable alternating current, which is then optionally stored in a battery or fed into the power grid and flows directly to consumers in the household (e.g. television, refrigerator, WLAN router). Either the conventional Schuko plug or a special Wieland feed device can be used for the feed.
This is what you should know about balcony power plants!
Balcony power plants are becoming increasingly popular, and with good reason. The small photovoltaic system is associated with initial acquisition costs. In contrast to conventional photovoltaic systems, however, the costs are kept within limits. While a photovoltaic system for the roof quickly amounts to several thousand euros, the acquisition costs for balcony power plants are just between 450 and 1000 euros.
Energy transition in a limited space
Balcony power plants do not require much space. On the contrary, they can easily be installed in a small space. A single solar module is usually the size of a small mattress (e.g. 175 x 90 x 3 cm) and usually weighs around 20 kg. The small photovoltaic systems are very compact and therefore fit perfectly on most balconies. However, tenants should bear in mind that the installation of a balcony power plant must be discussed with the landlord in advance.
The federal government is already working on simplified regulations so that a landlord can no longer prohibit the installation of a balcony power plant.
How much electricity can a balcony power plant produce?
The most obvious advantage of balcony power plants is of course the reduction in electricity costs. A balcony power plant with two modules and a total output of 800 watts produces around 550 to 800 kWh of electricity annually, depending on orientation, angle of inclination, self-consumption and possible shading. The electricity costs can therefore be reduced by up to 320 euros per year at an electricity price of 40 cents per kWh.
The energy magazine already has several acquaintances Balcony power plants tested, including small solar systems from Yuma, Priwatt, Green Solar, Solakon, Anker and many more. On average, the 800 watt systems produce around 3 to 4 kWh of electricity per day in summer when facing south and at an angle of inclination of 20°. In winter and on cloudy days, the yield is significantly lower.
How much power should the balcony power plant have?
For a small household with 1 to 2 people and an annual consumption of less than 1500 kWh, a balcony solar system with a solar module is recommended, which corresponds to an output of 300 to 400 watts. That is just enough to cover the basal turnover in the household.
For larger households with 3 to 4 people and an annual consumption of over 2000 kWh, a complete balcony power station set with 600W, 800W or more is worthwhile. A small solar system is most profitable if the majority of the electricity generated can also be used directly. For example in the summer with a pool pump, an air conditioner, and so on.
Inverter: certification and NS protection
Recently there was a scandal at DEYE, a manufacturer of micro inverters. He had simply omitted an important component, the mechanical relay for safe shutdown. Without this component, an inverter in Germany does not meet the legal requirements and may therefore not be put into operation. DEYE has already announced a retrofit solution so that the current inverters can be operated legally again.
Other manufacturers were then scrutinized, including the most well-known models from Hoymiles and TSUN. These are safe and currently meet the requirements for NA protection (grid and system protection). This is also important to avoid getting an electric shock when pulling the plug out of the socket.
Especially with cheap balcony power plant sets from discounters, you should pay close attention to which components are used. According to that energy magazine There are often problems with cheap micro inverters from China, as they simply switch off at high temperatures and can be defective after a few years. Important contribution to environmental protection
The energy transition is in full swing. With balcony power plants, almost everyone can make an important contribution. Even if there is no space for a conventional photovoltaic system. A balcony power plant does not replace fossil fuels. Nevertheless, they make a noticeable contribution. A balcony power plant can save up to 300 kilograms of CO2 per year.
Photovoltaic system vs. balcony power plant: What are the differences?
Photovoltaic systems and balcony power plants basically work according to the same principle. Both solutions use solar energy to generate electricity. However, there are some differences between the two solutions.
The most obvious difference is clearly the size or dimensioning. Photovoltaic systems consist of several modules and require a lot of space. They are usually installed on roofs. Balcony power plants, on the other hand, are very small and flexible. These can also be attached directly to the balcony parapet. In addition, balcony power plants are “ready to plug in”. This means that the system can be put into operation yourself within a very short time using the Plug & Play connection system. The connection is not made via the building services, but via the usual Schuko plug. No electrician is required.
Plant performance also varies. While a solar system on the roof logically produces more power due to its size, balcony power plants produce comparatively little electricity at 400 to 800 watts. Balcony power plants are there to cover the basic consumption of the household. It is therefore not worth buying a larger system if the consumption in the household is not given, since unused electricity is simply given away. There is no feed-in tariff for micro-generation plants.
Installing a balcony power plant: does it require specialist staff?
There are many factors to consider before purchasing a balcony power plant. Next to the Registration with the federal networkAgency and the permission of the landlord, the installation is also an important point. There are different views here. Many are of the opinion that it is quite easy to install a balcony power plant yourself. Others, however, say that this requires specialist staff. But what exactly is the situation here?
Basically, the installation of a balcony power plant is a relatively simple matter. In other words, for small balcony power plants, there are no special requirements for specialist knowledge. The plug connections are self-explanatory and only fit on the right connections anyway. Nevertheless, one should be aware that an incorrectly executed installation can not only be dangerous, but can also result in serious damage to the system. If you are unsure, you should always consult an electrician when in doubt.
Power of the balcony power plant: this is what the legislation looks like
How high the output of a balcony power plant may be in this country has been regulated by law. In Germany, the limit is currently 600 watts. Legislation on this was only revised in 2020. Thanks to this legal change, the operation of a balcony power plant has been made much easier. Balcony power plant owners therefore have a relatively large amount of leeway compared to previous years.
However, if the 600 watt limit is exceeded, the balcony power plant is subject to it other regulations and is no longer considered a mini solar system. A balcony power plant with an output of over 600 watts is therefore also associated with higher costs and greater bureaucracy. In addition, it must only be installed by qualified personnel.
Increase to 800 watts minimum limit from 2024
After the VDE At the beginning of the year, the Federal Government made new recommendations regarding balcony power plants, and the new photovoltaic strategy followed suit. It is now certain that there will be simpler regulations for plug-in solar systems.
From January 1st, 2024, the minimum limit will be raised from 600 to 800 watts. In addition, a maximum output of the solar modules of 2000 watts is permitted. So that customers don't have to wait with the purchase, there have been innovative, upgradable systems for several months. These are currently still supplied with a 600W inverter, but can be increased to 800W manually or via an over-the-air update after the change in the law.
08/02/2023