Quick Details
In recent years, balcony PV has received great attention in the European region. In February this year, the German Institute of Electrical Engineers, drafted a document to simplify the rules for balcony photovoltaic systems in order to ensure safety, and raise the power limit to 800W, which is on a par with the European standard. The drafting document will push balcony PV to another boom.
What is balcony PV?
Balcony photovoltaic systems, known in Germany as "balkonkraftwerk", are ultra-small distributed photovoltaic systems, also called plug-in photovoltaic systems, that are installed on a balcony. The user simply attaches the PV system to the balcony railing and plugs the system cable into a socket at home. A balcony PV system usually consists of one or two PV modules and a microinverter. The solar modules generate DC power, which is then converted to AC power by the inverter, which plugs the system into an outlet and connects it to the home circuit.
There are three main distinguishing features of balcony PV: it's easy to install, it's readily available, and it's inexpensive.
1. Cost savings: installing balcony PV has a small upfront investment cost and does not require expensive capital; and users can save money on their electricity bills by generating electricity through PV.
According to the German Consumer Advisory Center, installing a 380W balcony PV system can provide about 280kWh of electricity per year. This is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of a refrigerator and a washing machine in a two-person household. The user saves about 132 euros per year by using two systems to form a complete balcony PV plant. On sunny days, the system can meet most of the electricity needs of an average two-person household.
2. Easy to install: The system is compact and easy to install, even for non-professional installers, who can easily install it by reading the instructions; if the user plans to move out of the house, the system can be disassembled at any time to change the application area.
3. Ready to use: Users can connect the system directly to the home circuit by simply plugging it into an outlet, and the system will start generating electricity!
With rising electricity prices and increasing energy shortages, balcony PV systems are booming. According to the Consumer Advice Center of North Rhine-Westphalia, more and more municipalities, federal states and regional associations are promoting balcony photovoltaic systems through subsidies and policies and regulations, and grid operators and power suppliers are supporting the system by simplifying registration. In China, many urban households are also choosing to install PV systems on their balconies to obtain green power.
Post time: Oct-17-2023