this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2025
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‘If 1.5m Germans have them there must be something in it’: how balcony solar is taking off (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/technology
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[–] Buffalox 32 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (8 children)

Thanks really good info. 👍😀

A layman can literally plug it in to an existing wall socket

That's amazing, I had no idea that is possible??? Is that special for Germany? (sorry for keeping on with new questions). 😋 I've never heard of that option here in Denmark.

cost between 299€ and 800€

No wonder it's a popular option, our system is of course bigger with 11.2 kWh and 7.5 kWh battery. but it was $17000 1½ year ago. Prices have dropped to $12500 for a similar system, but still such an 800W system is dirt cheap by comparison.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

There are already a few requirements for operating the balcony panels, At least here in Germany:

  • You need a suitable electricity meter
  • You have to register with a relevant authority and inform the electricity provider that you are operating a “balcony power plant”.
  • The microconverter should run on its own secured circuit. (“Should”, will certainly do very few) But technically it is simple:
  1. Set up panels
  2. Connecting necessary plugs
  3. Microconverter to the socket
  4. Be happy that you produce up to 800 watts of your own electricity

I think it's almost irrelevant how many panels you ultimately split up. However, no more than 800 watts may be fed in.But if you have panels with, let's say, 2000 watts, you can of course charge various batteries with them beforehand. Nobody can say anything against it.

[–] DacoTaco 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Just for your information : belgium is allowing the balcony solar panels this year, but they have put limits on which you can install. The power supplier needs to have approved the kit you install. This is just to prevent people from getting cheap crap from the internet.
Other than that, same rules!

[–] Deway 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Wait really? I didn't know we finally caught up with the neighbors!

[–] RunawayFixer 4 points 2 weeks ago

Officially it's allowed after April 17th, but there's already an extensive list of approved devices.

https://www.test-aankoop.be/woning-energie/hernieuwbare-energie/nieuws/plug-and-play-zonnepaneel

There's probably a french version of that article as well, but test- achats/aankoop hasn't made it easy to switch languages :)

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