A new trend in energy self-generation, balcony photovoltaics are spreading across densely built-up European cities, as they offer a feasible solution for buildings with limited rooftop space for installing a solar power generation system. But they are not only a feasible solution; they are also an attractive one.
Balcony photovoltaics and the savings on electricity bills
Their widespread use in Germany, Belgium, Austria, France and elsewhere has shown that installing two 400 Watt (watts) panels can reduce a typical household’s electricity bill by at least 25%. The cost is around 1.000 euros (including VAT), and there is no installation cost, as consumers can install them themselves.
This is particularly relevant in Greece, where 60% of Greeks live in apartment buildings (figures for 2021, Eurostat), where installing panels on the rooftop requires the consent of the other building residents. The new technology has obvious advantages.
Balcony photovoltaics (also known as plug-and-play photovoltaics) do not require consent unless the building is listed or a monument, or is located in a traditional settlement.
As the Association of Photovoltaic Companies (SEF) adviser Mr. Stelios Psomas tells «Oikonomikos Tachydromos», “plug-and-play photovoltaics allow anyone to harness the power of the sun, saving money on electricity bills.” After all, the vertical surface area of cities is much greater than that of rooftops in densely built-up urban areas, and balcony panels benefit more from it than rooftop panels do—even from the “low” winter sun.
With a simple SCHUKO socket
Plug-and-play photovoltaics usually consist of two photovoltaic modules, a microinverter and a simple mounting system, and connect directly to a socket in the building.
“This is a low-cost system—costing the same as or less than a solar water heater—that is easy to install, usually as a Do-It-Yourself project. It is ideal for low-income households and renters, who can take it with them to their next home when they move,” Mr. Psomas points out. In fact, installation can be carried out using standard SCHUKO sockets, which are better suited to the plug-and-play operation of balcony photovoltaics.
In Greece, as in Spain, photovoltaic associations are in discussions with grid operators (SEF is in talks with DEDDIE in Greece) to clarify the rules for these systems soon, followed by the promotion of the necessary legislative regulation that will allow them to be installed simply by notifying the operator.
Germany’s example
Plug-and-play photovoltaics are especially popular in Germany, where a new legislative package (Solarpaket-1) was approved last April. It clarifies the regulations concerning balcony solar systems and reduces administrative barriers.
Today, more than 700.000 households in Germany use solar panels on their balconies (figures for 2/10/2024), double the number recorded at the start of 2024, according to data from the federal electricity distribution regulator BNetzA. Registered systems bring the country’s installed capacity of balcony solar photovoltaics to 600 MW (megawatts).
Under the new German law, photovoltaic systems are considered plug-and-play balcony photovoltaics if they have an installed capacity of up to 2 kilowatts (kWp) and inverter power of up to 800 Volt-amperes. The law also clarifies that only a simple online notification to the electricity supplier through a dedicated digital portal is required. In addition, to make things even easier for consumers, the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) announced that balcony photovoltaics are not considered construction products, so there are no specific technical requirements for their installation.
Furthermore, to promote the new technology, Germans have exempted balcony photovoltaics from value-added tax since January 2023 (0% VAT), and some municipalities have introduced generous subsidy programs to encourage their adoption. Berlin, for example, offers a subsidy of 500 euros to households that buy balcony photovoltaics.
The EU and other countries
Other countries that have imposed 0% VAT on solar systems include Austria, Britain, Croatia, Ireland and the Netherlands. “The EU encourages member states to support the adoption of balcony photovoltaics, but this is not mandatory and has not yet been adopted by many countries, although the situation is changing rapidly,” Mr. Psomas notes, pointing out that Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal has adopted an encouraging stance toward balcony photovoltaics.
The market share of balcony photovoltaics was valued in 2023 at 1,12 billion dollars, with projections indicating it will reach 4,5 billion dollars by 2032, according to the Global Balcony Solar System Market Research Report (2024). The market’s projected annual growth rate for the period 2024 – 2032 is 16,76%.
Source: Ot.gr
Source: Ot.gr
