With rising electricity prices, alternative energy sources are becoming increasingly important.
Two people from Lenggries report on their experiences with balcony power plants.
Lenggries – The price of electricity is rising sharply, while at the same time the current energy crisis has made it clear once again how important it is to switch to renewable energies: Against this background, balcony power plants are particularly popular.
Since the beginning of the year, the state has even been promoting the purchase by waiving VAT.
The Pfister family from Lenggries also installed such small solar modules on their balcony - an acquisition that Stefan Pfister does not regret, as he reports in an interview with our newspaper.
Everyone should contribute to the energy transition
"I see the problem of climate change and that something has to be done in energy policy," says Lenggrieser.
Saving CO2 is the order of the day.
"And if each of the 83 million Germans contributes a small part, a lot is gained," he says.
Such considerations would have given him the idea of finding out about balcony power plants.
Cost was also a factor.
"We were still a long way from the electricity price cap."
Not everyone wants to install a large photovoltaic system on the roof right away - and tenants like the Pfisters do not have such a measure in their own hands.
Stefan Pfister was able to ask the landlady whether she would agree to a "power plant" on the balcony - she had no objection.
As a rule, no permit is required for a balcony power plant
Via videos on the YouTube platform, Pfister then came across a provider “who explained everything very, very well,” as Lenggrieser says.
He ordered his balcony power plant from this company – and the provider also took on one of the few formalities with the entry in the market master data register.
A balcony power plant does not have to be approved, explains Pfister.
However, the energy supplier must be informed of this.
In the case of the Pfister family, the electricity meter then had to be replaced.
"Now we have a two-way meter that measures both what I feed in and what I consume."
"You can't go wrong, it's super user-friendly"
The installation of the two solar panels was extremely easy, says Lenggrieser.
"You don't need an electrician for this - just plug four plugs together, connect them to the outside socket, and that's it.
You can't go wrong, it's super user-friendly." An inverter that converts the DC and AC voltage must also be connected in between.
In order to mount the panels on the balcony, he ordered the appropriate hooks from the locksmith.
The output of balcony power plants in Germany is currently limited to 600 watts
Even if the modules would theoretically give more: The output of balcony power plants is currently limited to 600 watts in Germany.
You can't make yourself completely energy self-sufficient, as Pfister admits.
The power plant always produces electricity from solar energy when it is light.
On the cloudy winter day on which Pfister shows his system to the newspaper editor, just 400 watt hours have accumulated by the evening.
On nicer days, however, it has recently been 850 watt hours or 1.2 kilowatt hours, "and in summer it will certainly be 2 kilowatt hours," expects Pfister.
Of course, that doesn't cover the average household consumption of around 5 kilowatt hours either.
Nevertheless, this self-supply reduces the electricity bill.
The investment paid for itself in four to seven years
"I think the way of thinking is wrong if you just say: all or not at all," says Pfister.
Every contribution is important.
And from a purely financial point of view, he calculated that the investment would pay for itself in four to seven years.
Pfister himself paid 940 euros.
Thanks to the tax privileges, you can probably get there with less.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Bad Tölz newsletter.
You should definitely use the electricity yourself
In any case, you should consume the electricity from the balcony power plant yourself. If the modules produce more than the household needs, the excess electricity flows into the grid – without being paid for.
That shouldn't tend to happen with the Pfisters.
Since both Stefan and his wife Sabine Pfister work from home, there are usually two computers running in the house during the day when light falls on the modules, and at lunchtime people cook at home.
In addition, as in every household, there is the basic load of constantly running devices such as refrigerators and routers or stand-by functions.
And if there is "overproduction", Pfister has set it up in such a way that the electricity flows into the battery charging station for the electric scooter.
Another possibility is, of course, to let the dishwasher or washing machine run during the day if the sun is shining - if necessary via time control.
You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.
