The country in Europe that has installed more than 400,000 solar balconies: Why they are more attractive than ordinary photovoltaic panels (Video)

A new wave of solar energy capture products not only provides cheap energy, but also attracts new users in the energy transition process.

Almost half a million plug-in solar systems are installed in Germany, most of them occupying a perfect place on the balconies of buildings.

According to the latest data, in the first quarter of this year alone, 50,000 new photovoltaic devices were installed. This boom comes from Germany’s “very strong solar culture,” according to an expert consulted by Euronews.

Solar balconies are just one element of the wider solar transition process in Europe, explains Jan Osenberg, policy consultant at SolarPower Europe. “We consider them some elements of solar roofs, but also something different. Basically, we look at them as a trend for all possible solar energy generation infrastructure,” he says.

The list of structures suitable for plug-in solar panels includes trains, highways, parking lots, car roofs, building facades – almost any structure can capture solar energy.

How a solar balcony works

The main difference between solar balconies and solar roofs is size. Basically, balcony-mount systems consist of a panel or two that plug into the outlet.

These units produce about 10% of the energy that classic roof-mounted photovoltaic panels provide.

In a rough calculation, Osenberg estimates that Germany has about 200 MW of capacity from solar balconies, compared to a total of 16 GW from solar panels on residential roofs.

For the average customer, the main difference is that the balcony solar panel is much easier to install: you buy the kit online and you don’t need an installer to install it, unlike roof panels, which only licensed technicians can install to avoid fire risks.

In short: the panels must be placed on a fixing structure, then they are connected by attached cables to an inverter that converts the energy from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), the type of electricity used in the home. The current is transferred to the outlet through a regular plug.

Why solar balconies are successful

“The main reason for the success of these systems is that they give the chance to use solar energy to people who did not have this possibility before,” explains a representative of the German manufacturer Meyer Burger.

“Most don’t own a home or can’t install solar panels on their roof because of heritage legislation, shade or other roof construction conditions. For them, the solar balcony is attractive because they can use solar energy to -produce their own electricity and reduce their energy bills,” he adds.

Germany was one of the first countries to invest in solar technology and now has the largest solar power production in Europe.

But apartment buildings entered this large-scale phenomenon later. This is because the decision to mount photovoltaic panels on the roof of the blocks depends on the agreement of all the tenants, and the distribution of electricity between the apartments is difficult.

“With solar balconies, however, suddenly it’s very, very easy. All these people who couldn’t have solar energy for the last ten years now have access to it,” explains representative Meyer Burger.

Solar balconies have other important advantages:

• these solutions also come with accumulators to store the energy produced, which are mounted between the panel and the inverter. The batteries are smaller than those for roof panels, but provide enough power for users who are out during the day and return home in the evening.
• some systems have apps that install on your phone and show how much power the system is producing and how much it is covering.
• the user does not have to be a homeowner to install photovoltaic panels on the balcony: if he moves, the tenant does not lose the investment, but takes it with him.

However, although it does not require installation by a licensed installer, the system weighs 24 kilograms. Therefore, it is very important to follow the instructions and installation conditions to avoid it falling from a height.

Subsidies also matter

In the early 2000s, Germany moved to the forefront of the solar energy sector. The government encouraged people to get involved by offering a fixed price for each unit of energy sent to the grid.

The release from bureaucracy, the elimination of VAT, but also the granting of subsidies gave further impulses to this market.

The subsidies are applied at the regional level. In Berlin, they reach 500 euros, covering almost half of the cost of the kit. The investment is covered in about three years, says Osenberg.

Solar panels for the balcony have a lifespan of about 20 years, therefore, they are a very attractive investment. According to the market data register, more than 80,000 plug-in solar panels were installed in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, followed by Bavaria with more than 60,000 and Lower Saxony with more than 50,000.

The size of solar balcony systems is constantly increasing and is definitely moving towards four panels, adds Osenberg.

Other countries still have a lot to learn

The EU considers that member states can contribute to the adoption of the solar balcony solution, but, not being mandatory, it is not embraced by all countries. Belgium even banned them, fearing the impact unregistered or improvised systems would have on the electricity grid.

Grid operators want to monitor the power supply, as sudden changes can lead to a blackout. “But in our opinion, this is not really a problem because the current input from the balcony system is so small that the impact would also be quite negligible,” Osenberg believes.

Austria, France, Italy, Poland and Luxembourg have taken a favorable stance on solar balconies, and renewable energy advocates in Spain are trying to get the government to relax the rules soon.

TD