Generate electricity yourself on the balcony? Small Solar Systems Are Good for That

Solar system cannot be installed on every roof. If your roof doesn’t provide room for your own electricity generation, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dream of generating electricity. Lightning You can do it yourself balcony Produce when conditions are right. One advantage of small solar systems is that you generated electricity Can often be used directly. This should save the cost of solar batteries.

Simply generate electricity yourself and use it directly?

Balcony solar panels tempt you with the promise that you can easily own one Lightning Generate and use it directly. You can get small photovoltaic systems the size of two doormats. Devices of this magnitude can be easily connected electrical outlets Can be plugged in, which is why they are also called “plug-in solar devices”. In the past, these systems were generally not suitable for self-consumers. They were a very expensive purchase compared to the performance they could bring. However, the good news is that prices have changed since then.

According to the Consumer Advice Center, you can buy 300-watt modules that measure less than 1 by 1.7 meters, for 350 to 500 euros. An inverter, which is needed to convert direct current from the solar system to 20-volt alternating current for the home, is already taken into account. Depending on the type of installation, however, an installation cost of just under 100 euros can be added. Compared to the acquisition cost for a large photovoltaic system, it is more economical for many users. Especially if there isn’t room for a large system.

Who is the Mini PV System Beneficial for?

According to the Consumer Advice Centre, a 300 watt solar module installed on a south facing balcony without shade can supply about 200 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. However, the key word here is shadow-free: the more shadows that fall on the panels, the less electricity can be generated. Assuming that a photovoltaic system can be operated for a good 20 years – sometimes even more – that’s about 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. If you take into account the acquisition cost of 300-watt modules and their assembly cost, you get a cost of about 11 cents per kilowatt hour. Considering the fact that people are currently happy to pay more than 30 cents per kilowatt hour to the utility, this seems like a good investment.

However, there are other points you need to consider if you want to generate electricity yourself. Since small solar modules do not contain any solar batteries, they cannot store any electricity. In terms of cost, it would not be suitable for such small systems. You can get maximum benefit from the generated electricity only when you actually use it actively. Who already has one in his house smart home Especially advantageous here, with a large number of individual integrations. A small PV system can easily provide additional power that many smart device with their standby functions. If there are other home appliances such as refrigerators and freezers that are constantly connected to the grid, the benefits are greater.

For example, if you charge your e-bike with it, you can use electricity in a particularly sustainable way. The charger for an e-bike has about 1,000 watts. Depending on the operating mode, some washing machines may require up to 2,000 watts. It is therefore advisable to charge your e-bike and run your washing machine when the photovoltaic system is producing the most electricity.

Refinement after many years

Depending on how many kilowatt hours you generate each year, you will sooner or later offset the investment costs. If you consume about half the amount of electricity produced, the photovoltaic system saves you money for about 100 kilowatt hours. For example, at a cost of 32 cents per kilowatt hour, this would mean a savings of 32 euros over the year. The acquisition cost for the system was around 350 euros. After about 11 years, you will have covered the cost of the system. Since a photovoltaic system often lasts more than 20 years, you will actually make a profit from the model from its 12th year onwards. If you managed to use the full 200 kilowatt hours, your annual savings would double. At 64 euros per year, you will have paid the cost for your mini PV system only after 5 to 6 years.

Of course, if you can realistically consume more, you can also use a more powerful mini PV system with an output of 500 to 600 watts. However, you should not exceed 600 watts with your inverter as output power. If it exceeds the upper limit of 600 watts, your system is subject to more comprehensive regulations pursuant to the Renewable Energy Sources Act. While you can often register small photovoltaic systems with a simple registration process, full registration as a photovoltaic system applies to these systems.

What should you keep in mind when installing solar equipment?

If you do not own your residence, you will need the consent of your landlord or community of owners to install solar modules on the front portion. You should also get approval for installation on the balcony. There are first affirmative court rulings in favor of tenants who have built a system without consent. However, another court may judge the situation differently. a legal basis that entitles you to use the solar system as a renter Have not yet installed on the balcony.

You also need to register your system. Even small solar systems have to be registered with local network operators and the Federal Network Agency. Coordinating with different network operators can be cumbersome in a variety of ways. However, simplified registration procedures are now being used in many places. At least as long as the output power of the inverter is less than the stated 600 Watts.

You should also check the electricity meter in your home. It should have a so called backstop so that you can operate the solar module without any problems. Older models that don’t have this feature may run backwards if your home generates more electricity than you consume. However, returning the counter is prohibited by law and is treated as forgery of documents. After all, the electricity meter has to determine what electricity the electricity supplier has supplied to you so that billing can be done correctly. If your electric meter is a model with this type of backstop, you should see a gear with a lock on it.

Generate electricity yourself – is it worth investing in a mini PV system?

If you have a similar power consumption and a sun and shade free installation location, you should consider a mini PV system. This is supported not only by the opportunity to really reduce your own cost over many years of use. even in things sustainability Plants have a good balance sheet. With a 300-watt system, whose power output you make full use of, you can save up to 1,300 kilograms of CO . can save up to₂ Save the service life of more than 20 years. Unfortunately, anyone who can use only a fraction of the electricity generated or doesn’t have a shadow free zone doesn’t benefit here. Users who consume less than a quarter of the 200 kilowatt hours of electricity generated per year should refrain from investing. In this case, the system would need more than 21 years to be able to offset its acquisition costs.