The crisis of rising electricity prices is already affecting us, with higher and higher bills filling everyone with complaints. At the same time, the energy crisis is intensifying. Finding renewable energy is indispensable, and solar energy is a renewable energy source that we can utilize as soon as possible, so installing solar PV panels is a favorable option. But not everyone has their own single-family house, and not everyone can afford a complete PV system. In these cases, balcony PV is an effective solution that is affordable and environmentally friendly.
What is balcony PV
The development of distributed PV in cities is often limited by rooftop resources, and various PV application models have emerged in order to build distributed PV plants. Balcony photovoltaic power generation is a new model that has emerged recently, which uses balcony resources to layout solar power generation systems.
The advantage of installing balcony photovoltaic power generation is that no independent roof resources are needed, either in residential buildings or high-rise apartments. Without damaging the main structure of the building, the photovoltaic modules are laid at the balcony outside the house, and of course you can install them on the wall, terrace, or garden with just a few pieces. Not only covers a small area, but also makes full use of the building resources, to achieve construction, environmental protection, energy saving, power generation, practical in one, cleaning and maintenance is also relatively easy.
What conditions do you need to meet to install balcony PV panels?
It is usually off-grid power generation. As long as your balcony faces south, you can build this "balcony power plant", of course, it is also suitable for balconies facing southwest or southeast. The size of the system determines the performance and ultimately the cost, and the amount of power generated depends on the number of solar panels installed and the power level.
"Balcony power plants can be installed in a variety of ways, depending on the latitude of the location, the tilt angle of the panels, and the load bearing of the balcony. A common wall-mounted type is to tilt the panels parallel to the wall, or they can be placed directly in the middle of the balcony using wheeled racks, or installed as an overhanging canopy.
The electricity generated must be directed into a wall outlet; do not use extension cords or power strips. The Consumer Protection Association recommends that every family installing a solar PV system check their homeowners insurance coverage and ask if the PV system can be included in an existing insurance contract.
In January 2023, the German VDE proposes to simplify the threshold for the installation and use of balcony PV in the hope that this type of PV will be widely used in the future. A federal state has even decided to grant subsidies to allow residents to install mini solar systems on their balconies.
In Italy, the power is limited to less than 800w without having to show any authorization, but must comply with some regulations.
Advantages and disadvantages of balcony PV
The new model of balcony PV, compared to other rooftop projects, has both advantages and disadvantages in terms of installed capacity.
Advantages:
1. small size does not take up space, can be laid outside the house PV modules on the balcony, wall, etc.
2. low threshold, almost no management authorization required (some countries need to contact the apartment manager)
3. Solar panels with four-wheeled support, which can be moved and adjusted to fit the best direction of sunlight (available for camping)
4. Can be used in case of power failure
5. Easy to maintain and clean
6. Low cost
Installation of balcony PV has many advantages, but it also has some considerations: 1:
1. Small PV systems cannot guarantee to cover the daily energy needs of the whole apartment, and the small number of installations results in small power generation capacity
2. Wall-mounted solar panels require professional construction personnel and have a high risk factor for installation.
Maysun Solar, as a PV module manufacturer with 15 years of professional experience, has local warehouses in 13 countries, including Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Italy, etc. We can provide you with the closest PV panels. Contact us now and get a quote. Trust us, it's worth it!