Sun power on balconies: Hitting the milestone of a million!
Balcony solar panel installations surpass the milestone of one million units. - Increase in Balcony Count Reaches One Million
Get ready to raise a glass (of solar-powered lemonade), folks, because we've hit a major milestone in Germany! According to the Market Data Register and the German Solar Association (BSW), the number of balcony power plants, aka plug-in solar devices, has surged to almost one million. That's right, these mini solar systems get the energy party started on balconies nationwide!
Balcony power plants are small-scale solar installations that often take up residence on balconies, but they can be parked just about anywhere. These systems cap out at a power output of 800 watts. When the sun's out, they generate electricity for the homeowner's local grid via a standard power outlet, reducing the need to draw from the electric supplier.
The financial returns on investment make these systems a prime choice. If the power generated exceeds consumption, the surplus is fed into the grid for free. The economics of these solar systems lean in their favor, with a return on investment period of two and a half to five years based on an analysis by the comparison portal Verivox. The best situations for these systems involve a south-facing balcony, a slight angle, and no shade on the solar modules.
Balcony power plant stats and forecasts
As of today, the Market Data Register shows 975,583 operational systems, with a further 20,000 temporarily or permanently shut down. It's worth noting that these numbers lag behind the actual number of balcony power plants, according to the Federal Network Agency. That's because there's a one-month notification deadline for these systems, and not all get reported. The half-million mark was reached back in June 2024, just a year ago.
A Verivox survey reveals some intriguing insights: 9% of the 1,007 respondents already have a balcony power plant, while 17% plan to get one. About 21% lack the necessary space, 15% find the mini solar system not worthwhile, and 19% are set against having one.
Balcony power plants: A new chapter for city living
The explosion of balcony power plants is turning the solar energy landscape of German cities on its head, according to BSW CEO Carsten Körnig. This energy revolution is empowering a broader range of residents to participate in and benefit from Germany's green transition.
While the individual contribution of balcony power plants is relatively small, gathering together, they say a lot. Collectively, the registered systems boast around 0.9 gigawatts of installed capacity. In comparison, all solar installations in Germany (including rooftops, open spaces, and more) amount to more than a hundred times that.
The largest number of rooftop solar power plants can be found in North Rhine-Westphalia (194,077), followed by Bavaria (148,284). Lower Saxony (127,879), Baden-Württemberg (127,665), and Hesse (73,898) are close behind. Rhineland-Palatinate (58,085), Saxony (54,415), Schleswig-Holstein (41,106), Brandenburg with 34,157 plants, Saxony-Anhalt (26,576), Thuringia (25,706), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (20,838), Berlin (18,445), the Saarland (12,130), and finally, Hamburg (7,202) and Bremen (5,118) have the least. The density tends to be lower in city-states due to fewer suitable installation locations.
Delving deeper into balcony power plants
- High electricity prices: Germany's residential electricity prices—reaching 0.4162 euros/kWh (including taxes and fees) in 2023—make the economic case for generating one's own electricity a tempting proposition for many households.
- Affordability and easy installation: A basic balcony power plant typically costs around 600 euros and is easy to install with minimal paperwork, thanks to recent regulatory simplifications.
- Strong consumer motivation: Over a third of German adults covet a balcony power plant for their homes. Motives include reducing electricity costs, climate protection, elevating property values, self-sufficiency, and supporting electric vehicles or heat pumps with low-cost electricity.
- Regulatory simplifications: The German government has streamlined rules for installing and operating balcony power plants, making it easier for renters and non-owners to participate and accelerate adoption.
- Social and market trends: Balcony power plants have become a visible symbol of energy independence and social responsibility, piquing interest among people.
Embracing the sun: Balcony power plants and rooftop solar systems
While balcony power plants have a far lower output per unit compared to rooftop installations, their quick adoption rate is transforming urban areas and apartments, complementing the ongoing growth of rooftop solar in terms of overall capacity and impact.
- The renewable-energy industry is witnessing an interesting trend in Germany, as employment policy in the finance sector is increasingly focused on the production and distribution of energy from balcony power plants.
- The technology behind balcony power plants is not limited to solar energy; it is also being integrated into the wider employment policy of the energy industry, promoting the use of renewable resources.
- As the number of operational balcony power plants continues to grow, the employment policy in the technology sector is expected to expand, providing opportunities for engineers and technicians to develop and maintain these innovative renewable-energy systems.
