Electricity prices are skyrocketing and home energy bills are getting more and more expensive. Most people are looking for ways to save money on their electricity bills. Either way, even if you can only save a small amount, it’s still a good thing. Many people choose to install solar panels on the roof of their house, which is a smart choice. And what about those renters or apartment owners who don’t have their own roofs? Photovoltaics, or the first choice. Use your own small balcony to build a mini PV power station. Simple, convenient, small investment, fast results! Here, let’s learn more about the mini PV power station on the balcony!
What is a mini PV plant on a balcony?
In both residential buildings and high-rise apartments, there is space for one or two PV modules almost anywhere, i.e. an area of about 4 m². You can find such a space on a balcony, a wall, or a terrace.
Usually, all you need is two modules, a mini-inverter, and the necessary connectors, fasteners, and cables to build a mini-balcony PV plant. You can even do the job yourself without paying an installer.
In principle, it works like a large PV system, but due to its size, it has only a relatively low power generation capacity. However, this power might be enough for all the exertion needed for a single apartment. In addition, it is usually an off-grid system, i.e. it is only used for self-consumption and does not supply electricity to the public grid. This also eliminates the need for complicated administrative procedures such as applications and approvals; you just need to register.
How do I install a balcony PV system?
The most common approach is to install PV panels on the balcony enclosure, which is where your room receives the most sunlight. You may need to place the panels strategically to maximize solar energy absorption. You can adjust the tilt of the panels to the latitude of your location so that the sunlight will reach the panels vertically. You can place the panels parallel to the wall, tilted to the wall, or mounted as an overhanging canopy.
After determining the location and tilt angle, the installation and fixing work begins. Special hardware is required to fix the brackets for mounting balcony PV panels, and they are more difficult and dangerous to fix than ground or roof mounted PV panels. This is because when installing ground or roof mounted PV panels, you can stand on the ground or on the roof. In contrast, when installing PV panels on a balcony, the construction crew is often suspended from the ground under the protection of a safety rope, which definitely raises the danger factor of the job. Although the whole construction process is relatively simple, it is very important to make perfect protection measures before the construction.
How much electricity can a balcony PV plant generate?
It is not easy to calculate the power generation capacity of a balcony PV plant because it is influenced by many factors.
1. Sunshine duration
- Tilt angle
- Module conversion rate
- The number of photovoltaic panels
- Placement location. etc.
For most European countries, the ideal situation is to have PV panels facing south or southwest with an optimal tilt of 30 degrees in summer and 45 degrees in winter. Compared to rooftop PV panels, a single PV panel on a balcony may even produce more electricity. This is because in winter the sun is lower in the sky, which will allow more direct sunlight to hit the wall-mounted PV panels, and winters in Europe are longer than summers.
The great advantages of balcony PV
Save as much as you can. The total cost of photovoltaic power is 8-12 cents / kWh, much lower than the electricity supplier’s tariff, which is currently over 40 cents / kWh. Even if a terrace PV plant produces less electricity than a large PV system, it will pay for itself in a few years. And the acquisition cost of two PV panels is in the low triple-digit to four-digit range.
Compared to rooftop PV systems, balcony PV systems are also extremely easy to install and have minimal cleaning and maintenance costs (vertical or small angle tilt keeps the panels from accumulating snow and leaves).
Choose Maysun Solar, a module manufacturer founded in 2008 with extensive expertise. In Europe, we specialize in distributed small and medium-sized power plants. We have local warehouses in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Italy and Spain and can supply you with PV panels at any time. Contact us now and get a quote. Trust us, it’s worth it!
