Balcony power plant: You have to consider this when buying

• A balcony power plant is a small solar system that is installed on the balcony and feeds electricity into your home network.
• Before installing a system with a power of up to 600 watts, you must notify the network operator.
• A balcony power plant is financially worthwhile only in the long term if the installation location is good.

First of all, it is important to clarify what a balcony power plant actually is. This is nothing more than a small photovoltaic system with an inverter that can be easily installed on your own balcony, shed roof or similar. The electricity generated is fed into the house network via a regular house socket – this reduces the amount of electricity you draw from the public electricity network.

What is a balcony power plant and what is the difference to a solar system?

The difference to a solar system is mainly in the size and installation method. Because ordinary solar systems or solar roof tiles consist of many square meters of solar panels that have to be installed on the house roof by a specialist. The balcony power plant, on the other hand, can also be installed by you (under certain circumstances) and does not require a building permit – but it also produces significantly less electricity.

Can I simply install the balcony power plant myself?

Balcony power plants are available for private individuals in normal retail and specialist shops. No approval is required for the purchase. The installation looks a little different. There are two different points of view here: on the one hand the legal and the regulations of the network operator, on the other hand the consent of the landlord.

Basically, you do not need permission from the network operator to install a balcony power plant with a maximum output of less than 600 watts, you just have to report it to him. This is usually done using a corresponding online form, and an entry in the Federal Network Agency’s market master data register must also be made; this is also online. There are no taxes for the balcony power plant – the purchase is even exempt from VAT.

A meter exchange is not necessary for the installation if the system does not feed into the power grid – this is the case if the electricity consumption in the house is higher than the amount of electricity generated (i.e. almost always). In addition to reporting to the network operator and the Federal Network Agency, you need the permission of your landlord before you install the system – because he is responsible for ensuring that the system does not disturb any neighbors.

How do I get electricity with the balcony power plant?

The electricity from the balcony power plant is fed directly into the power grid of your apartment or house. To do this, the device can be connected to an ordinary Schuko socket in the apartment or on the balcony. Special feed sockets, the so-called Wieland sockets, are even better suited for this. However, these should only be installed by trained specialists.

However, the Electrical Engineering Association (VDE) expressly recommends the use of a special power socket. When the electricity is fed in, the electricity from the system is now primarily used to operate the household appliances.

When does a balcony power plant pay for itself?

You should also look at whether the purchase of a balcony power plant is worthwhile at all. We will make a sample calculation for this: In the ideal case, the PV system supplies around 600 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. With an electricity price of 40 cents per kWh, this results in annual savings of around 240 euros. If you calculate a price of around 700 euros for the entire system, the purchase of such a system will pay for itself after just three years.

However, you must note that the yield from such a selfPV system depends heavily on the conditions under which it is installed. An installation facing south without shading is ideal. However, if the balcony faces north or if there is a lot of shade on the modules, you usually only get less than a third of the possible yield – then a balcony power plant is almost no longer worthwhile. But you should also note that you are doing something good for the environment if you generate electricity yourself.