L R AS Published on Sunday 17 September 2023 - n° 457 - Categories:Germany, self-consumption
Plug-in solar appliances a big hit in Germany
German consumers' interest in plug-in solar devices, also known as balcony solar panels, continues to defy all expectations. According to data from the German Federal Network Agency, the number of declared installations in Germany
has risen from 137,000 (in 2022) to 230,000 in the first half of 2023. Industry experts estimate that the actual number will be as high as 800,000 if undeclared devices are included.
Balcony solar panels, balcony power plants or plug-in solar devices, also known as mini-photovoltaic systems, are systems with a maximum power output of 600 watts (W) or less at inverter power. PV panels can be installed on any outdoor surface, such as balconies, roofs, outside walls or gardens.
Complete systems are available from distributors and DIY shops. People see plug-in solar panels as a way of reducing their electricity bills.
Direct financial support for the purchase of a mini-photovoltaic system in Germany is a particular incentive. Depending on the region, between €50 and €1,450 is paid out per system.
As the power of the solar installations to be connected is very limited (currently 600 watts), in the vast majority of cases the electricity is consumed directly in the home with appliances running all the time (fridge, Wi-Fi router, etc.). There are also financial and administrative obligations associated with the buy-back request: the cost of replacing the meter by the network operator (€100) and the tax on metering points (€20 per year) are borne by the operator of the installation. This compares with a feed-in tariff of just 8.2 euro cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
There are already a number of balcony storage systems on the market with capacities of up to 2.2 kWh. To determine whether a storage solution makes economic sense, the electricity generated by the balcony solar panels can be compared with the amount consumed. This determines how much electricity is actually being "offered" to the grid.
Tecsol of 13 September 2023
Editor's note PV installations on balconies signal consumers' interest in their own lives, their own spending, and therefore their own consumption. This is a far cry from the big power stations that encourage citizens to refuse any installation in the name of disrupting the landscape or protecting animal or plant species that need to be preserved!
