Small solar devices that can be connected to home sockets are becoming increasingly popular in Germany – over a million of them have been installed in the last three years, reports dw.com.
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The modules are usually about 2 square meters, and in a mini-system there can be up to four of them. They can be easily installed on balconies, where they operate as safely as other household appliances – just in reverse. Current flows from the photovoltaic module through the inverter and the electrical outlet back to the power grid.
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Increasingly, these systems also include storing electricity in batteries, meaning excess electricity can be saved for future use.
The falling costs of solar energy and energy storage in batteries are one of the greatest successes of recent years in the fight against climate change. In 2025, renewable energy will overtake coal in global electricity production for the first time, the portal notes.
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Energy price. “After four years, energy is free”
The price of solar panel systems for balconies has halved in Germany over the past two years, with small models available from around €200 and large models with energy storage for less than €1,000. In Germany, they generate electricity for less than half the cost of grid electricity.
According to the University of Applied Sciences Berlin (HTW), the purchase usually pays for itself within four to seven years. After this period, electricity generated by households is free. Solar modules can operate for more than 30 years, and batteries “can have a lifespan of 10-15 years,” said Volker Quaschning, professor of renewable energy systems at HTW. Four modules and an energy storage facility cover approximately half of the electricity needs of a two-person household in Central Europe.
In Germany, falling prices, improved technology and political support have contributed to a balcony solar boom.
Source: dw.com
