If rising electricity prices are bothering you, you may consider switching to solar energy. Homeowners who have a solar system installed can reap numerous benefits: lower utility bills, a smaller carbon footprint, and potentially higher home value. Tenants can also produce their own electricity using compact solar modules for the socket. Small PV systems are currently on everyone's lips and are suitable for anyone who has a balcony or terrace. Here you can read more about how mini solar systems work and whether they are worth purchasing.
It is not necessary to cover an entire roof with PV solar panels for the installation to be both economically and environmentally viable. The idea of a grid-connectedSolar system on the balconyis becoming increasingly important and tenants are not excluded either. With many office workers and freelancers now working from home, any supply of energy from sunlight can help provide additional energyElectricity consumption in the householdcompensate for in daylight. And as long as there is a power outlet nearby, small PV systems can be installed on balconies, garden sheds, terraces, etc.
The balcony power plant is a small photovoltaic system for a balcony or terrace that is connected directly to the house network via a plug. As soon as the sun shines on the solar modules, the gainedSolar energy into usable household electricityconverted. South-facing, sunny balconies are best suited for this. The electricity yield is optimal there.
A mini PV system consists of at least one solar module, an inverter and all the necessary connections and cables. In contrast to large PV systems, the solar system for balconies has a maximum output of 600 watts. In terms of safety, the Berlin Photovoltaic Institute has decided that this performance is harmless in a household with circuit breakers.
This is how the system works:
The solar panels of the small PV system are mounted either on the balcony railing or on the house wall. To do this, special brackets are used, which are usually included in the kit. The solar system is then connected to the power grid via a SchuKo or Wieland socket.
When the sun shines on it, the PV module converts the solar energy into direct current. The inverter is used to convert this direct current into alternating current so that it can be used directly by the electrical appliances in the house.
The electricity generated is used for internal consumption, with the surplus being fed into the power grid. However, this is not paid for, which is the case with a large photovoltaic system with several modules, but rather “gifted” to the network operator.
How to choose the right PV system for the socket
To determine which balcony PV system is right for you, you can use your household's annual electricity consumption as a guide. If this is more than 2,000 kWh, then the balcony power plant with a maximum output of 600 Wp (watt peak) will serve you well. If the annual electricity consumption is less than 2,000 kWh, a mini solar system with a maximum output of 300 to 400 Wp would be optimal.
Is a mini PV system worth it?
Both owners and tenants can purchase small PV systems for their own consumption with a maximum output of 600 watts for the socket. Before doing so, you are obliged to register this with the network operator and then register it free of charge with the Federal Network Agency. If the system is not registered, there will be fines.
Mini solar systems are quite inexpensive compared to the larger variants and although there is no nationwide funding,Many cities in Germany subsidizethe purchase of balcony power plants. You can usually get a module like this for around 500 euros and the subsidy can be up to 200 euros.
Whether the balcony power plant is worthwhile depends on various factors. Both the number of sunny days per year and local electricity prices play a role. You should also consider the incidence of light on the solar module. If conditions are favorable and electricity costs are rising, the small solar system for the balcony is considered a worthwhile investment, the purchase of which will pay for itself in approx. 6 to 9 years.
Small solar system with storage – is that possible?
With balcony power plants, it is important that the solar modules are used exclusively to supply electricity to the householdReduce electricity consumption from the public grid during the day. The combination of a mini PV system with electricity storage is usually not profitable because the surplus generated is very small. The electricity generated is best used directly in the household by electrical devices such as televisions, PCs, refrigerators, etc.
