Connect balcony power plant: What you need to know

by Corinna

Before you decide to install a balcony power plant, there are one or two specifications to consider. We show you what you should think about.

Connecting a balcony power plant – what you should consider

The so-called balcony power plants also enable tenants to save electricity costs. However, this can only be achieved if you observe the regulations that are specified for the connection of balcony power plants.

  • A prerequisite for attaching a balcony power plant is the consent of the landlord, since the solar panels are usually attached to the facade. Therefore, before you purchase the solar panels, you should first discuss your project with the landlord and obtain written permission.
  • If you own a condominium, since the modification of the Home Ownership Act in 2020, you only need a majority approval of the owners’ association to connect a balcony power. But even in this case, you need to coordinate in advance with the other residents of the house.
  • In short: Before you start planning your balcony power plant, first check whether the intended location is suitable for solar panels at all. After that, take care of the necessary permits and then it’s time to purchase and connect the balcony power plant.
  • Tip: If you are lucky, the installation of a balcony power plant is currently subsidized. For this reason, it is currently worthwhile to keep an eye on the various funding opportunities in advance.

Connecting a balcony power plant – how to determine the optimal mini solar power plant

Once you have found a sunny spot for your solar panels and have the necessary permits in your pocket, the balcony power plant goes into the planning phase. When planning the balcony power plant, the first question to focus on is how much electricity you will permanently consume. As a rule, the energy you generate with the help of the balcony power plant is consumed in a ratio of 1:1. The generated electricity, which is not consumed immediately, is lost without storage.

  • This means you first list the continuous consumers, such as refrigerator and freezer, air conditioner or aquarium, and determine their power consumption. If you are frequently at home during the day, also include the average electricity consumed in the calculation.
  • Once you have calculated your “continuous power consumption”, it will be easier for you to find the balcony power plant that suits you best. In specialized trade you can find small solar modules with an output of 50 to 150 watts as well as solar panels with an output of 350 to about 400 watts. A solar panel with an output of about 380 watts can generate up to 300 kilowatt hours of energy per year.
  • Alternatively, you also have the option of feeding the generated energy into the power grid and billing the grid provider. However, this involves considerable expense and is therefore only worthwhile in the rarest of cases. What is definitely worthwhile, however, is the use of electricity storage systems. There has been a lot of progress in the development of electricity storage systems in recent years, and prices have also fallen significantly. Nevertheless, a power storage unit is of course an additional cost factor that should be considered in peace.
  • After all the preliminary work is done, it is necessary to connect the balcony power plant. With a little bit of craftsmanship, attaching the solar panels is done nimbly. The most important part of installing the mini solar power system is the optimal orientation of the solar panels. If you do not have an outdoor socket on the balcony, you will also need to drill a small hole through the wall for the cable routing. You connect the balcony power system with a touch-proof Schuco socket or a Wieland socket.
  • Finally, you must not forget to register your balcony power plant both with your grid operator and in the market master data register. If you wait too long to register, you may be fined.

Related Articles

Leave a Comment