Photovoltaic panels on the balcony. How much it costs you and how much you save on your energy bill, but also what obligations you have to avoid causing a fire

Shops sell kits for photovoltaic panels that anyone can install on their balcony to reduce some of their electricity bills. But even if they are used only for own consumption, specialists claim that their installation should only be done by authorized persons and only after the area's energy distribution operator is notified. Otherwise there is a risk of short circuits and fires.

• In the first eight months of this year, there were 25 fires caused by faulty operation of photovoltaic panels, more than during the whole of last year, when 20 such cases were registered, according to the information sent to HotNews by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.

Photovoltaic systems for the balcony can be purchased from DIY stores in Romania, but also online. They cost around 2,000 – 3,000 lei, depending on capacity, features and brand.

For example, a 400 Megawatt (MV) kit costs 2,642 lei in an online store and contains a solar panel, mounting bracket, microinverter, a “on-grid string inverter” (grid connection inverter) and socket accessories.

Considering the fact that a system with this capacity can produce approximately 1.5-2 kWh per day (kilowatt hour), the savings we make on a monthly bill is about 60-80 lei. The calculations vary depending on the solar potential of the area, the capacity of the photovoltaic system, but also the way we use it.

ANRE: Whoever installs such equipment must notify the energy distributor in the area

The National Energy Regulatory Authority, questioned by HotNews, warns, however, that the installation of such equipment must be notified to the distribution operator in the area, even if we use electricity only for our own consumption.

“In this case, the user has the obligation to notify the distribution operator to which his place of consumption is connected to the network regarding the modification of the user facility by installing the electricity production system, stating that he does not intend to discharge the produced and unconsumed electricity into the public interest electrical network, nor the certification of the quality of prosumer”, ANRE representatives stated for HotNews.

“At the same time, together with the previously mentioned information, it is necessary for the user to send to the operator the documents of the equipment made available by its supplier, in order to verify that it meets the technical requirements for use”,

The obligation to notify the distributor is provided for in the Regulation regarding the connection of users to public interest electrical networks, approved by ANRE Order no. 59/2013″, ANRE also claims.

If we don't just use the energy for our own consumption and want to deliver it to the grid to become prosumers, then there is special legislation we need to go through, which can be consulted here.

Can the potential of solar electricity production on Romanian balconies be estimated?

The institution also states that it does not have information on the number of photovoltaic systems installed on balconies in Romania.

“ANRE exclusively monitors the evolution of prosumers, regardless of where the solar panels that produce electricity are located. Thus, the data that is available is related to the installed power, not to the physical place where the panels are located. For example, for a prosumer who has a house with a garden, it is not the object of ANRE's interest if the panels are mounted on the roof of the house or in the garden of the house”, ANRE representatives explain to the HotNews public.

At the same time, ask what is the energy potential that can be produced by the solar panels that would be mounted on the balconies of the block or on the facades of the blocks in Romania, the authorities say that the assessment of this potential is difficult, taking into account the surfaces with the right orientation for the installation to be effective and, in addition, the effect on the electricity network must also be assessed.

ANRE also says that it is not necessary to amend the legislation to facilitate the installation of such photovoltaic systems by as many consumers as possible, since “the provisions of the regulations specific to the connection to the network in force can be applied without any barrier in these cases as well”.

Off-the-shelf systems can be dangerous if not installed by certified installers

Regarding the dangers and challenges regarding the installation of as many such systems as possible, ANRE representatives specify:

“Systems have appeared on the market called “Photovoltaic panel kit, for balcony, at the socket, 400 W”, which could represent a potential danger because the use of such a production system is outside the control of the distribution operator (DO) and could be used without prior request to update the energy situation of the place of consumption”.

“Using these equipment without notifying the distribution company could increase the risk of incidents, short circuits and fires in consumer installations, especially through the use of non-approved or artisanal equipment or through incorrect dimensioning of the installation,” says ANRE.

From a technical perspective, during the process of connecting to the grid, the electricity production systems “must be installed by persons authorized/certified by ANRE, a requirement which, if not respected, may constitute a risk in the operation of these systems”, the authorities also say.

Moreover, in the user manual of such equipment sold online, it is written that “for safety, only a qualified technician who has been trained or who has demonstrated competence can install and maintain the microinverter with the help of this document.”

The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations stated, for HotNews, that in the first eight months of this year there were 25 fires that were caused by faulty operation of photovoltaic panels. For comparison, 20 such cases were registered throughout last year.

In Romania, at the end of September, there were 267,000 prosumers, with a total installed power of 3,100 MW.

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