Germany was one of the first countries that saw it clearly by betting and investing in solar technology. This has allowed the nation to become the largest producer of electricity from solar energy in Europe. The problem? The same one we have in Spain and many other enclaves on the continent: the vast majority of its population lives in apartments and blocks of flats, and the current bureaucracy makes it very complicated to install “shared” photovoltaic. Thus, and just as they were pioneers in the use of the sun, they also brought life back to buildings.
Balkonkraftwerk. That is the name by which the use of solar energy on balconies has become popular. Its meaning would be something similar to, yes, “solar panels on the balcony”, and from Germany it has been mutating to other countries such as Spain (mainly), along with other European enclaves.
The system, made up of easy-to-install plug-in solar panels, allows you to reduce up to 30% on bills of electricity for an initial cost of between 400 and 800 euros on average, payable in approximately six years. Its accessibility and flexibility are key: it does not require complex permits or expensive certifications as long as the power does not exceed 800 wattsexcept in cases of specific local restrictions.
Advantages in the city. Let’s think about the case of Spain. Here, where most of us live in apartments and roof panels need community approval, balcony panels present a viable alternative. In addition, its vertical position maximizes the capture of the winter sun. A model that complements initiatives such as the so-called energy communities, which allow residents to benefit from solar installations in nearby public buildings.
There is no doubt, these strategies are essential to move towards more self-sufficient cities, reducing dependence on centralized networks. According to Raquel Pauledirector of the Renovables Foundation, this decentralized model promotes self-sufficiency in cities that depend 97% on external sources of electricity. Paule highlights that the energy transition not only requires new technologies, but also a shift towards more democratic and participatory modelssomething that large electricity companies should facilitate rather than hinder.
How solar balconies work. The main difference between solar balconies and solar roofs is that the former are a much smaller system (which also produces less). Basically, the technology consists of one or two panels connected to a power outlet and, very importantly, they only produce about 10% of the energy of residential rooftop systems. In this regard, Germany has around 200 MW of balcony solar installed, compared to the 16 GW of roof sector capacity.
Regarding the installation, the balconies They are quite simple. The kit is purchased (between 300 and 800 euros) without the need for an electrician to configure it. Unlike rooftop installations, where it must be done by certified professionals to avoid risks of all kinds, on balconies the panels are placed on a mounting structure and connected by cables to an inverter that converts electricity from DC to AC. , and that reaches your outlet through a normal plug.
From Germany to the rest. As we said, the nation has been a pioneer in the use of this technology. The figure leaves no room for doubt: Solar panels have been installed on 1.5 million German balconies. The reason? The success is largely attributed to rising energy costs following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as regulations that protect homeowners’ right to install these systems without interference from neighbors.
Not only that. Germany has set an ambitious goal of obtain 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030thus leading the energy transition in Europe. Countries such as Spain, Italy, Poland and France are adopting this technology, while Belgium, which previously banned these devices due to concerns about their network connection, has lifted such restrictions.
Modernization and challenges. Although the Balkonkraftwerk is an affordable solution, it has the same “but” as its “big brother”, of course: its effectiveness depends on daylight, and adding battery storage systems can significantly increase initial costs, and we are talking about up to 1,000 euros or more in many cases.
According to Santiago VernettaCEO of Tornasol Energy, the installation cost of traditional systems often exceeds the price of the materials, highlighting the economic advantage of plug-in panels. Furthermore, experts agree that the development of cheaper batteries and integration with other renewable sources, such as wind, should be essential to maximize the impact of these technologies.
A more sustainable energy future. There are examples that demonstrate that solar energy on balconies is transforming the way homes generate and consume energy, combining simplicity, savings and sustainability. In cities like Helsinki is already experimenting with clad buildings of solar panels, demonstrating the potential of these solutions to maximize the use of the urban environment (in other cases, on the contrary, it is questioned for aesthetic reasons, Amsterdam case).
In this regard, Michael Schmela, director of market intelligence at SolarPower Europe, points out that the model itself is only one more piece in the puzzle of the energy transitionbut one of the most versatile and promising at the moment.
What seems clear is that the use of solar panels for balconies is here to stay. Although Spain has been slower to adopt this technology compared to Germany, enthusiasm is growing. Experts are confident that the success of these systems will spread across Europe, empowering consumers and accelerating the transition towards a decentralized energy model. As Vernetta told the Guardian“if 1.5 million Germans have them, there must be something to it.”
In techopiniones | Hanging solar panels on apartment balconies is becoming more and more common. The Netherlands is concerned
In techopiniones | Europe has a problem with solar energy: we live in apartments. In Germany they have installed 500,000 solar balconies