Anyone who strolls through neat suburban settlements with their many single and multi-family houses can see with their own eyes from the numerous solar modules that adorn the roofs that the green energy transition is becoming more and more popular with the public.
Renters may be wondering how they can participate in the trend towards self-sufficiency with solar power. Finally, he does not have the option of installing a roof for a photovoltaic system to be able to use.
There is also the prospect for renters to become part of this global movement. The solar system for the balcony is the solution. Already 200,000 tenants in Germany are supplied with them green electricitycover around a fifth of their electricity needs through self-sufficiency and provide a remedy against skyrocketing electricity prices.
1. How do balcony power plants work?
Solar systems for the balcony are small power plants. Since they pass on the electricity generated directly to the consumer or, if necessary, feed it into the public power grid, they are also called socket solar devices. The conversion of the direct current into the usual household 230 V alternating current makes a difference inverter. Balcony PV systems are much smaller than rooftop PV systems and require no installation. You can on the balcony that terrace or the gazebo can be set up.
As a rule, they do not have more than two solar panels and the exploitation rate of solar electricity is rather modest at 200 to 600 watts. If you have a larger model or combine individual plug-in balcony power plants, you can generate electricity of over 600 watts.
In this case, however, the user should note that the device is then no longer considered a mini PV system, which means that the requirements are stricter. After installation with a mounting frame or another fastening system, the power plants are ready to plug in.
2. Which PV cells are best?
Tenants can for their Mini solar system first choose between black monocrystalline and blue polycrystalline PV cells. Monocrystalline solar systems come with a efficiency 18 to 20% slightly more powerful than polycrystalline power plants, which come to 15 to 17%. Nevertheless, polycrystalline PV systems dominate in use because they traditionally offer the best value for money for the customer. However, this has started to change more recently.
In comparison, the light and handy thin-film solar systems for the balcony seem modest. Solar efficiencies are very low at 6 to 10%, although they are more tolerant of weak (diffuse) light and very hot solar radiation, with lower losses in this case. Novel and CIGS solar systems are innovativewhich have greatly improved thin-film modules with their copper-indium-gallium-diselenide alloy and almost achieve the efficiency of monocrystalline panels.
You will find further information in this Solar system comparison.
3. The ideal alignment of the solar modules
Solar modules with a tilt angle of almost 35 degrees to the south side are aligned. If necessary, an alignment to the west or east side is also possible. The construction of a solar system only makes no sense on the north side, since the friction losses would be too considerable. The modules should not have any shadows so that the sun’s rays reach their destination undisturbed.
4. More than double energy gain with storage
If you want to further improve the effect of your PV system, you can combine it with a storage unit. In practice, it has been shown that the utilization of mini photovoltaic systems is more than twice as high if excess electricity can be stored in a battery and does not automatically flow back into the public power grid.
4.1. Legal requirements
Unlike solar systems in condominiums, the procedure for mini photovoltaic systems is straightforward. The network operator must be informed and a registration is made to the Market master data register. In relation to the landlord, the small power plants are unfortunately subject to approval. However, since no installation and thus structural changes are required for the construction, most landlords are accommodating here.